Before the sky fell

Before the Sky Fell” is a heart-wrenching yet tender narrative told through the eyes of Ryaan, a 13-year-old boy living in Gaza. Once a carefree child dreaming of becoming a doctor, Ryaan enjoyed a peaceful life with his loving parents and spirited little sister, Maryam, in their small white home by the sea. Their days were filled with warmth, laughter, schoolwork, and the simple joys of family. But everything changes overnight when a missile strike shatters their world. Orphaned in an instant, Ryaan is forced to grow up too fast—becoming both protector and provider to his younger sister amid the ruins of war. As he struggles to shield Maryam from hunger, fear, and despair, he clings to memories of a life that now feels like a dream: Friday mornings at the market, his mother’s lullabies, and the lemon tree by the door that never got the chance to grow tall. This deeply moving story captures the innocence lost in conflict, the unbreakable bond between siblings, and the quiet strength of a boy forced to carry the weight of a broken world. It’s a tribute to resilience, memory, and the hope that even in the darkest times, love can be a kind of light.