Full Bloom in Nashville

This post details the story of an Iraqi family who I grew close with in college as well as the comic book I would create inspired by their life's journey.

After enduring a brutal Algorithms test in the fall of my junior year, I found solace in a place that had quickly become a refuge—a local refugee organization in Nashville, TN. On that day, I would meet Warda, a wonderful lady who would soon become almost like a secondary mother figure to me.

Spending time with Warda, an Iraqi refugee woman who had recently arrived in the United States in 2021, evoked rich memories of my past.

The way she called my name, littered with little “habibis” and a smile warm like the sun, would pull me back to the sun-soaked days spent alongside the riverbanks with the local fishermen of my childhood. Those men, with weathered hands and sun-spotted smiles, always knew how to lift my spirits. Nights spent eating Masgouf while songs blared from their speakers and political banter quickly escalated before fizzling out into bouts of laughter are memories I cherish to this very day.

Warda’s son, Sameer, had a mischievous spirit, always stealing things from my bag and hiding them around. His propensity for destruction reminded me of my little brother. Every time he tugged at my hand or kicked my leg, it felt like I was back home.

As days turned into weeks, my visits to the shelter became more frequent. With each passing day, my relationship with Warda deepened. Slowly, she began revealing glimpses of her past, each revelation like a fragile thread being unraveled, woven together with both pain and pride.

In Warda, I saw a woman who had faced unimaginable pain and suffering yet had the strength and determination to keep pushing despite it. With her family by her side, she, like so many who have had to flee their homes, found new purpose and resilience.

Warda’s story is one of heartbreak and triumph—a testament to the incredible strength refugees and migrants can exhibit when striving toward their goals. With her blessing and proper anonymization, I have created a comic to capture the essence of her journey and motivations—a tribute to the courage and resilience of a woman who refused to give up.

I present to you “Warda,” the story of a woman who forged a path for her children through the unyielding power of a mother’s will, providing them with the future she had always dreamed of.

This is only Part I of her story, and as I’ve been on the road for quite a while, I haven’t had a chance to properly finish Part II. It will come in due time.

Thank you!