Every night we heard bombs in the distance and gunshots that sounded like firecrackers. The mountain that overlooks the city—where we used to go for coffee shops, hookah bars, and panoramic views—became a military no‑go zone. Protests, once daily, skidded to a halt. People were disappearing. Some left the country intentionally; others simply vanished. Security forces began arresting people en masse and executing some on the spot.