Parvana's Journey

The children immediately take Hassan to the camp clinic, and a kind nurse lets them stay on the floor next to Hassan’s crib. She brings them tea, bread, and a blanket to share. After a few days, the clinic has grown so crowded that they must leave, so they create a small tent just outside the clinic. Each day, Parvana waits in line for bread for hours, and many times the bakery runs out before she reaches the front of the line. As the days pass, the camp grows increasingly crowded, loud, and smelly. The nights become colder, and Asif and Leila’s coughing worsens. However, Hassan is growing stronger in the clinic, and Parvana knows that, although the conditions are miserable, they will be safest if they stay in the camp for the winter. 

Weeks pass, and the conditions at the camp do not improve. Everywhere, people are sick, crying, starving, and desperate. One day, a plane drops packages of food on the camp, but many of them land in a nearby minefield. Before Parvana can stop her, Leila runs into the minefield towards the packages, and a mine explodes.