Where I'm From Poem: Assumani

Where I’m From: Assumani
By Sophia

I am from a large family, the youngest of seven.

I am from South Kivu Province. From the mountains and the all-too-familiar forests that encircle the lake I once swam in.

I am from my father’s death and the gun shots on my country’s soil, which forced me to leave.

I am from arriving home to a locked empty house that my family had fled from, leaving me in a sea of people, pushing and shoving; trying to escape.
From feeling truly abandoned, and alone.
From spending hours calling to my family, even though deep down, I knew they were already gone.

I am from having to leave my home wondering, did I abandon my country? Or did it abandon me?
I am from running for nine months, fleeing through six different countries, none of them feeling like home.
From unfamiliar places and people.

Now I am from a foster family, and a new home.
From nice people, and peace.
From finally being able to stop running, but I do worry that someday my fears will catch up to me.
For now I, Assumani, am from South Africa.