I was ten and was playing in the alley with my friend in the morning. It was the end of Spring and the time of final exams. My sister and two older brothers were studying at home, preparing themselves for the final school exam.
My friend said “tell your brother to come and play with us,” I replied “no, he has an exam.” He insisted. I had to go home and ask Afshin to play with us, who was very kind and accepted it out of love for me.
In those days, our game of choice was with a small simple slingshot that we made from a few pieces of wood and would practice aiming with it.
Afshin grabbed his slingshot and came outside.
A few minutes later, my friend took me to the other side of the village with the excuse of playing. We played for two hours and I returned home around noon.
My mother asked anxiously: “Where is Afshin?”I replied “he was not with me, I don’t know.” Fear, worry, and anxiety rippled through my mother's face. "He has not returned home," she said.
My heart sank. We......