I don't believe in second chances. It is very hard to rebuild the trust and the image that were destroyed.

Everyone called me crazy for staying when I had countless opportunities to leave, but I chose to stay because I believed in you and in the in the handful of people who aspire to make you better.

It's been five years now... since then, I adjusted my schedule to put up with your traffic jam. I increased my generator subscription not to struggle with the power cut. I made sure I have a health insurance plan in the absence of an effective NSSF. I replaced my 6 cylinder car with a 4 cylinder vehicle to save on gas. And to be able to bear the high cost of living and your lavish lifestyle, I took a job.

In return,

You failed to elect a president;
Your parliament extended its term;
Your government is completely paralyzed;
Your people are easily mobilized by religious and political leaders but do not rally around causes and issues that affect their lives;
Corruption has reached the grassroots;
Sectarianism and violence became common traits of your communities;
Crimes go unpunished;
Your garbage has been lying on the streets for weeks and only a handful of people (always the same) took to the streets;
Your people's interest is limited to partying, eating, shopping, traveling, gossiping, seeing and being seen;
Your people who claimed they needed the change the most have used the cause for everything but affect change;

Dear Lebanon,

Whoever persuaded you that you rise like a phoenix from the ashes is an asshole. Do not confuse resilience with apathy...

Dear Lebanon,

I don't believe in second chances… but the memories we shared deserve special consideration...

so “yalla” try not to deceive me.