The journey was long and often without hope.
We had little choice but to abandon our home and flee from a country that no longer was safe.
With my wife and two children we had made it to the refugee camp and were told we could be there for years until our application to come to Australia was processed.
A boat was leaving on the Friday and the skipper wanted dollars from each of us before he would allow us to board.
I had just enough to pay for the four of us.
The trip was slow, the boat crowded with other hopefuls.
After four weeks an Australian patrol boat came along side.
They took us to Christmas Island and the irony was not lost on me. This place is nothing like Christmas. We are still a long way from Australia.
Chains confined us, we cannot go anywhere, we are bored. I am desperate get to the mainland as my children need to go to school and my wife and I need to set up a home.
Is what we ask for so hard?
Why are we in this place and treated as criminals when we have done nothing wrong.
Written for: http://sundayphotofictioner.wordpress.com/2014/01/12/sunday-photo-fiction-january-12th-2014/
Morpethroad 
Wonderful…and such a great spin on the photo (which was really a great one this week). I really enjoyed this.
Thank you so much Anja, there are so many possibilities with this prompt. I may do another one.
Well….just go crazy now!
I will my other muse needs an outing I have been on holiday and neglecting her.
Oh my……..
Very well written my friend, I shall the ‘political side’ of it alone though 😉 you have been a busy boy haven’t you!
Thank you and yes, an idle mind is the devils playground.
Thank you for your comment oh wise one.
Oh wise one you say – snort, yes heaven help us in the future then! ;-)hugs.
Bask in it.Tomorrow I may think differently.
I know you will 🙂
Well written…here in Italy unfortuantely we too have refugees who are being taken from their country, paying their dollarsoften being dumped off shore before the “tubs” get too close to the coast where if they’re caught would be confiscated for illegal activities. Each year many people die, and those who survive languish as you say in camps awaiting either extradtion or an entrance visa…it’s realy so sad.
In Australia it is a bit of a disgrace as they are used as a political football.Thanks Georgia.
I’m afraid it is no better in Europe, your welcome and actually thanks to you Michael, we often forget the the migration problem is really international and such a shame and disgrace for us all.
Yes I think it is the same everywhere.
Nicely written from the immigrant side. I look forward to the other one if you decided to do so
Thanks Al..the other one yes well…hmmmm……
🙂
Great story with an important message!! 🙂 🙂
Thanks Helen. Hope you are well.
%)*&%$#! Politics!
Couldn’t have said it better RoSy…
😉
Well written piece but, like Al, AnElephant believes there are three sides to every story.
Of course, how else does one make informed decisions.