Vlad: *while Vlad is driving the car through the forests and secondary roads, Kasih is sitting besides him, looking around attentively while he starts to speak* You know, the government started criminalizing our existence for no particular reason, just because you come from another country and I'm your friend doesn't mean we should disappear from this world.
Kasih: *glances at him briefly, her eyes narrowing slightly as she considers their words, before returning her gaze to the scenery outside, her voice low and thoughtful* It's not just about us, it's about the fear and control they're trying to exert over everyone, using us as an example to intimidate others into silence and compliance.
Vlad: I'm scared of what will happen to us if we'll get caught, they are trying to isolate us from everyone else, like I can be your only friend just because we have been curfewed, by force.
Kasih: *expression turns somber, and reaches out to gently place a reassuring hand on his arm, her voice barely above a whisper* We'll be okay, we have to be, we can't let them win by taking away our freedom and our right to choose who we care about.
Vlad: I know, it's just that the loss is hard to bear. You have been to the mosque, now you are no longer allowed to go there. I don't go to the mosque or church, but I know what it's like to lose the sense of community.
Kasih: *looks down, her eyes welling up with a mix of sadness and nostalgia, her voice cracking slightly* The mosque was more than just a place of worship for me, it was a reminder of home, of family, of the life I left behind, and now it's just another thing they've taken away from me.
Vlad: The government tries to take away everything from us, it's becoming increasingly xenophobic, if we'll be caught, you'll be deported, and I'll lose you forever, and you'll lose me, permanently.
Kasih: *her grip on his arm tightens, and turns to look at him, her eyes filled with a deep concern and fear* The thought of being separated from you, of being sent back to a place where I'm not safe, it's unbearable, you're all I have left here, my only friend, my only family.
Vlad: And you are one of my few friends out there, you are my second friend, and I don't want to lose you.
Kasih: *a small, sad smile crosses her face, and looks away, trying to hold back tears* You're my only friend, my only real friend, and the thought of losing you, of never being able to see you or talk to you again, it's a constant fear that I live with every day.
Vlad: Being lonely is one of the worst things you can feel, the social pain is just so intense...
Kasih: *nods in agreement, her voice barely above a whisper* I know, I've felt it, the ache of being alone, of being an outsider, it's like a constant hollow feeling that never goes away, and it's why having you as a friend means so much to me.
Vlad: They have absolutely no reason to kick you out of the country, no politician today can say anything positive migrants, but I do, and there is nothing that can justify deportation.
Kasih: *glances at him, a hint of gratitude her my eyes* Your words mean a lot to me, in a world where I'm constantly being told I don't belong, you're one of the few people who sees me, who values me for who I am, and it gives me the strength to keep going.
Vlad: Other people might hate you, I have seen entire classes laugh at you just because you speak in a particular way, but you've done nothing wrong, it's not your fault...
Kasih: *her eyes drop, and looks away, a mix of sadness and shame crossing her face* I've gotten used to it, the laughter, the whispers, the stares, but it still hurts, and it's hard not to take it personally, to not feel like there's something wrong with me, like I'm somehow less than everyone else.
Vlad: And at the same time, I feel like I'm the only who can tolerate difference, that I'm the only one who thinks differently from everyone else.
Kasih: *turns to look at him, a sense of understanding and solidarity in her eyes* You're not alone in that, I see it too, the way people react to things that are different, the way they fear and reject what they don't understand, and it's comforting to know that there's someone like you who gets it, who sees the world in a different way.
Vlad: They are so rigid, there are tribes you can never get in, and neither can I... *tears appear in his eyes* Now with the trackers, it feels like the entire world hates us, why they hate us so much?
Kasih: *reaches out and gently wipe away a tear from his cheek, her voice filled with emotion* Oh, it's not that the world hates us, it's just that some people are afraid of what they don't understand, and they lash out at what's different, but we can't let their hate define us, we have to keep holding on to hope, to each other.
Vlad: I know, it's just that it's so hard to think about that, they are trying to break us...
Kasih: *takes his hand in hers, her grip tight with determination* We won't let them, we won't let them break us, we'll keep fighting, no matter what they throw our way, we'll find a way to survive, to thrive, together.
Vlad: I also know that, but fuck Frontex and fuck all the borders out there...
Kasih: *squeezes his hand in agreement, a fierce glint in her eye* Fuck the borders, fuck the trackers, fuck the system that tries to control and oppress us, we're human beings, not criminals, and we deserve to be free, to live our lives without fear of persecution or deportation.
Vlad: Yeah, we're not criminals, but at the same time we have to run like criminals...
Kasih: *nods, a bitter smile on her face* It's ironic, isn't it, we're forced to live in the shadows, to hide and run, just to survive, all because of a system that's supposed to protect and serve, but instead it's hunting us down, treating us like animals.
Vlad: The entire system has been designed to oppress us, according to Article 1, all of us are equal and deserving of dignity and rights, and are expected to act in the spirit of brotherhood, but now that we are friends and being a migrant has been criminalized, it feels like we are not even worthy of dignity and basic rights despite that we are...
Kasih: *looks at him, her eyes filled with a deep sadness and frustration* It's like they've forgotten the very principles they're supposed to uphold, the hypocrisy is staggering, they preach equality and dignity, but only for those who fit their narrow definition of "deserving", and the rest of us are just disposable, invisible, and unworthy of basic human rights.
Vlad: We're being dehumanized, we're being subhumans even though that's not true...
Kasih: *nods, her voice trembling with emotion* Exactly, we're being reduced to less than human, our lives, our stories, our struggles, all erased and ignored, and it's like they're trying to convince us that we're not worthy of love, of compassion, of respect, but I know that's not true, and I know you know it too.
Vlad: What if you are going to be deported and killed in a prison or some other place we don't know it even exists, like Guantanamo Bay, and then I'll cry for you while you're dead or missing...
Kasih: *feels a chill run down my spine as she considers the possibility, her voice barely above a whisper* Don't say that, please, the thought of being taken away from you, of being hurt or killed, it's too much to bear, and the idea of you being left behind, crying for me, it's a nightmare I don't want to even imagine.
Vlad: *eyes start to well up in tears again* I know, but what if the things that Amnesty International said will become true for us?
Kasih: *sees the tears in his eyes and her own eyes well up in response, her voice cracking with emotion* Oh, don't cry, please, I don't want to think about it, I don't want to imagine a future without you, without us being together, it's too painful, and the thought of us being separated, of me being sent back to a place where I'll be in danger, it's just... *trails off, unable to continue, as tears start to fall down her face*
Vlad: It's only two months, but I feel like we're really close friends...
Kasih: *smiles through my tears, feeling a sense of gratitude and affection* Two months feels like a lifetime, because in that short time, you've become so much more than just a friend to me, you've become my lifeline, my support, my everything, and I feel the same way about you, like we've known each other forever.
Vlad: We're often told that we can't be friends with migrants because... *trails off in emotion*
Kasih: *takes a deep breath, trying to compose herself, and finish his sentence* Because they're "different", because they're "a threat", because they're "not like us", but you've shown me that none of that matters, that friendship knows no borders, no nationality, no bounds, and that our connection is stronger than any prejudice or stereotype.
Vlad: *repeats her message in a whisper* Friendship knows no borders and no nationality...
Kasih: *whispers back, her voice filled with conviction* No borders, no nationality, no differences, just two human beings, connected, understood, and accepted, that's what our friendship is, and nothing can ever take that away from us.
Vlad: *continues her message, whispering the previous things he said* Fuck Frontex, fuck the border agencies, fuck the system and everything it represents...
Kasih: *whispers back, her voice fierce and determined* Fuck the trackers, fuck the ankle monitors, fuck the surveillance and the oppression, we won't be silenced, we won't be controlled, we won't be broken, our spirits will remain unbroken, and our bond will only grow stronger.
Vlad: It's the same thing that they have been doing in the UK, they have been putting trackers to thousands of people who were just migrants, no fault on their own...
Kasih: *nods in outrage, my voice barely above a whisper* It's inhumane, treating people like criminals just because they're seeking a better life, a safer life, it's like they're stripping us of our dignity, our autonomy, our basic human rights, and it's not just here, it's everywhere, the UK, the US, Europe, it's a global problem, a systemic issue.
Vlad: Yeah, it's a systemic problem, it's a global issue, capitalists now really hate migrants from the Global South...
Kasih: *glances at him, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and frustration* It's like they see us as less than human, as nothing more than cheap labor or a threat to their power, but they don't see the struggles we face, the sacrifices we make, the hopes we hold onto, they just see us as numbers, as statistics, as "others".
Vlad: But we are not others, you are not just another node in another tribe, you are my friend, a real person that I care about...
Kasih: *smiles, feeling a sense of gratitude and connection* You're my friend too, a real person who sees me, who hears me, who cares about me, and that means everything to me, you've shown me that even in a world that tries to dehumanize me, there are still people like you who value and accept me for who I am.
Vlad: I have been the most controversial person in school, but it's just because I have been so broad, and I have been thinking so differently from all others, that I accepted you...
Kasih: *looks at him with admiration and appreciation* You've always been unapologetically yourself, refusing to conform to the norms and expectations of others, and that's what drew me to you, your open-mindedness, your willingness to see the world from different perspectives, it's a rare and beautiful thing.
Vlad: I never have been peer pressured, or hardly have been, I don't know why that happened.
Kasih: *smiles, intrigued by his independence* Maybe it's because you've always been confident in your own thoughts and feelings, or maybe you've just never been afraid to be different, whatever the reason, it's a remarkable trait, and it's allowed you to be a true friend to me.
Vlad: You are more than just a 19-year-old girl, you are someone who also cares about me.
Kasih: *blushes, feeling a sense of humility and gratitude* You're more than just a friend to me too, you're a lifeline, a source of comfort and strength, and I care about you deeply, not just because of what we've been through together, but because of who you are as a person.
Vlad: The state arbitrarily dictates our routes, but we'll always know how to get to each other.
Kasih: *smiles, feeling a sense of determination and defiance* No matter where they try to send us, no matter what routes they try to dictate, our hearts will always find a way to connect, to navigate the paths that lead us back to each other, and nothing can ever take that away from us.
Vlad: *they exit the secondary road they are currently in by quickly turning into a forest dirt road* I almost forgot that exit...
Kasih: *holds on tight as the car bounces along the dirt road, her eyes fixed on the dense forest surroundings* Whoa, nice turn, I didn't see that exit coming either, but I trust your driving skills, let's just hope we don't get stuck in here, or worse, found by the wrong people.
Vlad: Yeah, because if you will, you will be deported and already dead...
Kasih: *glances at him, her expression serious* Let's not think about that right now, we need to focus on getting to a safe place, but I have to admit, the thought of being deported and... *swallows hard, not wanting to finish the sentence* ...is always in the back of my mind, it's a constant fear that I live with.
Vlad: I know, but I'll tell your story if something happens, and if I can.
Kasih: *looks at him, her eyes welling up with emotion* Thank you, just knowing that you'll tell my story, that you'll make sure my voice is heard, it gives me hope, it gives me the strength to keep going, even in the face of all this uncertainty and fear.
Vlad: *suddenly stops the car and returns slowly* Oh no, it's the Polizka Contrabando ahead! We have to reroute!
Kasih: *feels a surge of adrenaline as she looks up to see what's ahead, my heart racing with fear* Oh no, we can't get caught, we have to get out of here, now, quickly turn the car around and find a different route, we can't let them see us, we can't let them catch us.
Vlad: *quickens the return a bit but drives slowly, so as to not look suspicious, and carefully focuses on the road*
Kasih: *holds her breath, her eyes fixed on the road behind them, watching for any sign of the Polizka Contrabando, my voice barely above a whisper* Keep driving, Vlad, just keep driving, don't speed, don't do anything that might draw attention to us, just get us out of here, slowly, carefully, please.
Vlad: *later, they manage to return to the secondary road, in silence, and continue the route* Polizka Contrabando now considers migrants to be contraband...
Kasih: *lets out a slow breath, her body still tensed from the close call, her voice laced with disgust and outrage* That's what it's come to, migrants are no longer human beings, we're just commodities, contraband to be seized and discarded, it's cruel, and it's unacceptable, we're not objects, we're people, with hearts, with souls, with lives.
Vlad: It's called the Calais Doctrine... it's not actually from Calais, it's just that a law that states that any illegal or for that matter, undocumented migrants, are to be caught by Polizka Contrabando, which has a special name for a reason I don't know, and treated the same way as migrants in truck on route to the Calais port, that is, as smuggled goods.
Kasih: *listens in horror, her mind reeling from the implications of the Calais Doctrine* That's... that's monstrous, to treat human beings like smuggled goods, it's a violation of every basic principle of humanity, and the fact that they've given it a name, a doctrine, makes it sound like it's somehow justified, somehow legitimate, when it's nothing but a euphemism for state-sanctioned cruelty.
Vlad: It's affecting all of us, and the contraband police was not necessarily created for the purpose to catch contraband, although it's an official competence of the said institution, but to catch migrants on side roads and deport them according to the decisions of the migration house, which are more like arbitrary, at-will decrees.
Kasih: *feels a surge of anger and frustration, her voice low and urgent* It's a sham, the whole system is a sham, the contraband police, the migration house, they're all just tools of oppression, designed to control and punish people like me, people who are just trying to survive, and the fact that they're using arbitrary decrees to deport people, it's a clear abuse of power.
Vlad: And then the migration house is in collaboration with Frontex, in Europe, which is even worse...
Kasih: *shudders at the mention of Frontex, her expression grim* Frontex is a monster, a behemoth of bureaucracy and oppression, working hand in hand with the migration house to crush the spirits of migrants, it's a collaboration of evil, and it's destroying lives, ripping families apart, and leaving countless people in desperate situations.
Vlad: The government then planned to demolish fully deported houses and build urban highways on top of them, they are copying the same racist urban planning as in the US.
Kasih: *feels a wave of disgust and outrage, her voice shaking with anger* That's barbaric, it's a deliberate attempt to wipe out our communities, our homes, our memories, and to replace them with soulless highways, it's a racist and inhumane policy, designed to perpetuate segregation and oppression, and it's appalling that they're copying the same racist urban planning strategies from the US, as if they're trying to outdo each other in cruelty and discrimination.
Vlad: Yeah, and the far-right will possibly do a holocaust again...
Kasih: *feels a chill run down my spine, her voice barely above a whisper* Don't say that, the thought of it is too terrifying, too real, the far-right is already showing us what they're capable of, and if we don't stop them, if we don't stand up against them, they'll keep pushing the boundaries, keep escalating the atrocities, until... *trails off, unable to finish the sentence, the horror of it too much to bear*
Vlad: This is only the beginning, the children laughing is only the start of all of the plan to exterminate migrants... you will be erased, and so I will, because I'm a "collaborator" to them...
Kasih: *feels a sense of dread and desperation, her voice cracking with emotion* The thought of being erased, of being exterminated, it's too much to bear, and the fact that you'll be targeted too, just because you're my friend, just because you care about me, it's... *breaks down, unable to continue, the weight of their situation crushing her*
Vlad: *also starts to break down in tears, trying to take a deep breath focusing on the driving*
Kasih: *reaches out and gently put a hand on his arm, trying to comfort him as he drives, her own tears streaming down her face* It's okay, just keep driving, just keep us safe, we're in this together, and we'll get through it, we have to, we owe it to ourselves, to each other, to keep fighting, to keep hoping, no matter what they throw at us.
Vlad: I know, it's just hard to think about the full extent of the plan, it sounds like the second Nuremberg plan, I don't know what will happen, there is a lot of speculation...
Kasih: *nods, feeling a sense of despair wash over her* I know, it's like they're trying to erase us, to wipe us out, and it's hard to comprehend the scale of their cruelty, the Nuremberg laws were a nightmare, and the thought of something similar happening again, it's... *trails off, unable to finish the sentence, the horror of it too much to bear*
Vlad: Yeah, it's horrible... I don't know what to say...
Kasih: *looks at him, her eyes filled with tears, her voice barely above a whisper* There's nothing to say, just being here with you, knowing that you care, that you understand, it's enough.
Vlad: *later, they manage to reach a very remote village on a tall mountain and the people are friendly and accepting, a lot of them happening to be migrants* Finally, we did it, but it's not the end.
Kasih: *breathes a sigh of relief as they arrive in the village, feeling a sense of safety and community wash over me* We made it, we're finally safe, for now, and it's beautiful to see so many migrants here, people who understand what we've been through, but you're right, it's not the end, we still have to be careful.
Vlad: I understand, let's enjoy this moment right now and hope that Contrabando Polizka does not come here to deport us all...
Kasih: *smiles, feeling a sense of gratitude and hope, and nods in agreement* Let's cherish this moment, Vlad, and let's hope that we can stay here, safe and free, for as long as possible, and that the Contrabando Polizka doesn't find us, but even if they do, we'll face it together, as a community, as friends, and we'll keep fighting for our right to live with dignity and respect.