Appendix

Here is a bit of odd ends about the story, just for clarification's sake.

I've never written a story like this one, fiction during a non-fiction event, especially one happening right now, and plus the whole diary/journal format is a bit confusing I think. Also, the way that it's arranged around Shakespeare's play, Romeo & Juliet, is a little confusing if you know how R&J goes and G&F doesn't follow it exactly.

Characters & their counterparts

These are all the characters in my story and their counterparts in one of Shakespeare's most famous plays. Not all characters have counterparts, however, such as the Nurse, Sampson and Gregory, etc.

Romeo & Juliet – Gabriel & Fatima

Romeo - Gabriel

Juliet - Fatima

Friar Lawrence/Montague - Daniel

Mercutio - Aaron

Benvolio - Gil

Tybalt - Fatima's uncle

Capulet - Fatima's father

Lady Capulet - Fatima's mother

Lady Montague - Aviva

Paris - Aqel

Prince Escalus - The prince doesn't have one specific counterpart, more like many. In fact, it could be argued that he even has one. The prince is the head of power, intent on bringing peace to Verona. I think of the prince's counterpart being the government of the two countries, with the exception of the peace part. It all depends on how you look at it. I may be stretching things here, however.

Rosaline – Yael

FAQ

Was that a typo?

Most likely, yes. Normally I spell check religiously, and am also a grammar nerd, but in the duration of this story I seem to have fallen off the wagon.

Wouldn't Fatima wear her hijab?

She would be wearing her burka when in Gaza, but I like to think that Daniel politely asked her to wear something else when he took her to his home in Israel, and because of his politeness and her discomfort in the new place, she agreed.

It's a bit rushed.

It's a fatal flaw.

Why did you choose Romeo & Juliet instead of any other play/work of literature to base it off of?

I'm not sure; I guess I've always been really into that particular play. The characters are awesome and can really be analyzed well. I've began writing Romeo & Juliet in a novella style and from Paris' POV. You can read that if you want, it's on my profile. I'm not sure if I'll ever finish it or not.

What was the deal with Aqel? Wasn't Fatima envious?

Yes, Fatima was envious of Gabriel's relationship with Yael. Aqel is simply a device to prove her denial, as well as the counterpart to Paris. All of the characters, even the simple ones that have no complexity such as Aqel, are multi-dimensioned, much like the characters in Romeo & Juliet. Not only are they characters to help with the plot, but some are literary devices as well.

Anyway, even though I didn't know what I was doing half the time, I hope you take something away from this story. I may be giving two different sides of the story, but it all comes together into a basic concept: peace. No hate. This may just be my tree hugger side showing through my failed attempt at political correctness, but honestly. I hope you take something valuable from it, as cheesy as it sounds. A greater political understanding, at the very least.

Thanks so much for your reviews. It means so so sososososo much3

"Yeah you've gotta swim
Through wars without cause
Swim for the lost politicians
Who don't see their greed as a flaw"
- "Swim" by Jack's Mannequin

Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip: