Days after my arrival, waking up in the bedroom of a relative in London still didn’t feel real.

I kept waiting to find myself back in Greece or back on my journey – but the smell of Iranian tea and the sound of Farsi from the next room lingered. I could even hear my parents, who had phoned for an update on my progress as I settled in.

Finally, I was safe.

I arrived in October 2018 on a plane from Greece. After a grilling at Heathrow from immigration officials, I was able to pass through to arrivals and be reunited with some of my family.

The sense of relief is hard to describe – I couldn’t believe it was that simple.

I have experienced both safe and unsafe routes – before arriving in the UK by plane, my journey to Europe from Iran included a perilous boat crossing. It is why I worry a

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