Chapter 1: Moon Club
Chapter 1: Moon Club
The roof of Burhan's house was never meant to hold three boys.
It certainly wasn't meant to hold three boys, a broken plastic chair, two packets of chips, and the greatest secret club in history.
But somehow it did.
"Move over," Hanan complained, shoving Usama with his shoulder.
"I'm already sitting on the edge!"
"Then fall."
Burhan laughed so hard that he nearly dropped the flashlight he was using as a microphone.
The three friends were twelve years old and convinced they understood the world.
The moon hung above them, bright and round.
Usama stared at it for a moment.
"What if we stop being friends one day?"
The question surprised everyone.
Hanan immediately threw a chip at him.
"Idiot."
"No, seriously."
Burhan rolled his eyes.
"Why would we stop being friends?"
Usama shrugged.
"My cousin moved away last year. We barely talk now."
The rooftop became quiet.
For the first time, the future felt real.
School would end.
People would move.
Life would happen.
Hanan pointed toward the moon.
"Then we'll do that."
"Do what?" Burhan asked.
"The moon."
Usama blinked.
"The moon?"
"Yeah."
Hanan stood dramatically on the broken chair.
"If we ever live far away, we'll look at the moon."
The chair immediately cracked.
He fell.
Burhan and Usama burst into laughter.
Rubbing his back, Hanan continued as if nothing had happened.
"I'm serious."
Usama looked up.
The moon was still there.
"So wherever we are..."
"We'll see the same moon," Hanan said.
Burhan smiled.
It sounded stupid.
Exactly the kind of idea twelve-year-olds believed would last forever.
"I like it."
Usama nodded.
"Me too."
Burhan extended his hand.
"Then it's official."
The three boys placed their hands together.
"Moon Club."
"Moon Club forever," Hanan declared.
"Moon Club forever," Burhan repeated.
Usama grinned.
"Moon Club forever."
None of them knew that fifteen years later, one of them would be leaving the country forever.
None of them knew that one day their club would gain a fourth member.
A member who couldn't even speak properly.
A member who wasn't born yet.
A member named Subhan.
