Behind The Scenes
Explanation Behind the Cover of the Book
I have been asked many times about the color choices and the selection of the plane on the cover of my book. It is cathartic to finally be able to share.
We escaped in the hours just before dawn, from the clutches of a terrorist. One of my most poignant memories is what I saw after our plane rose above the clouds—the sun beginning to rise and the sky coming alive. The colors had a vibrancy I will never forget. The hues were the brightest orange, yellow, and deep shades of orange, as the sun had not yet fully made its entrance.
I recall looking at the billowing clouds beneath me, stretching endlessly in every direction. I remember the silence within the plane, empty except for us. A sense of peace began to pierce the bubble of fear I had carried on my shoulders.
Still young, I was forced to see firsthand the ugly side of life, and in its aftermath, I became a child who had grown up too quickly. I kept staring out the window until the last vestiges of the sunrise faded.
I looked across the aisle at my parents. They were leaning into one another, still clutching each other’s hands—eyes closed, heads resting together. They looked exhausted. My brothers were asleep, and the last thought that crossed my mind before I joined them in slumber was:
We made it.
