Mental cinema

I have prepared myself. I know what happens here every day.

The area around the Basmane train station is the current hub on the Turkish Aegean for organizing passage to Europe. Syrian families live in the cheap hotels all around, in Arabic-labeled restaurants smugglers wait for their customers, life jackets are on display in the shop windows as a matter of course, and even waterproof chest bags for documents are on sale.

I knew that in advance. After all, I prepared myself. I know what happens here every day.

A woman with a life jacket in a plastic bag and a baby on her arm comes towards me. Behind her, a man with two backpacks, the two of them hectically walking along the street.

This is everyday life here. I knew that in advance.

I had prepared myself. I know what happens here every day.

But my mind is running.