The Home for Everyone

Ares stepped off the bus, his fingers tightly clenching the strap of his backpack, which was the only remnant of his life in Israel. The Canadian air felt uncannily calm and mysterious, as if the world itself had changed. A volunteer guided him down a serene street where maple trees shook gracefully, their leaves of different colors scattered everywhere. On the porch of a fashionable house stood a boy whose eyes filled with curiosity and had smooth brown hair. “I’m Jake,” he said, his voice vibrant and light. Compared to his old life, Ares thought that Jake’s attitude was fulfilling and joyful. Ares managed a nod, and noticed that his heart was fiercely pounding against his chest, not from danger this time, but from the surprising kindness he was given. Inside, the scent of homemade soup flowed through the hallways and colorful photographs filled the walls. Ares felt that he had entered a world of peace and wellbeing rather than war, anger, and the intention to hurt others. Then, Jake led him to a guest room that looked well-prepared: a neatly folded blanket, a lamp that illuminated the room, and a window looking out onto a yard. “My mom says a home is something everyone deserves,” Jake said. “You’re safe here.” The words landed gently, almost like the leaves that tumbled from the trees outside. Ares touched the blanket; it was smooth, and the thought of sleeping in it sounded like what Ares was longing for his whole life. In Israel, nights had been sharp and restless, which contrasted from the silence and peace that now surrounded him. A home, he realized, was more than just an object with walls and a roof; It was a place that helped him build a whole new life.