The fall of the Assad regime in Syria last December took the world by surprise, igniting hopes of a peaceful future for the war-weary nation. But violent clashes between Assad loyalists and government security forces, and subsequent retaliatory attacks, have claimed over 1,000 lives, reportedly including Christians and people from other minorities.

It was happening again, the familiar dreaded fear that would come upon me. I was overpowered by fear, so much that even my body was subject to it as reality; my nervous system began to respond in over-drive; crying, anxiety, heart-pounding, stomach-upset.