Omar, the Captain, and the Green Apple
Omar is 37 years old, the owner of a small shop in Ain el Mreisseh. Like his father before him, he is also a boat captain, drawn to the sea just as much as to the land. He grew up between the waves and the scent of fresh produce, learning how to steer a boat and how to run a shop—two inheritances from the man he admired most.
As a child, Omar loved green apples. His father knew this and always kept one aside for him. One day, a man came into the shop, wanting to buy an entire carton of green apples. Omar’s father asked him to leave just one behind for his son, but the man refused. So, Omar’s father refused to sell him the apples at all. “I’d rather keep this one for my son than sell you the whole box,” he said.
That was the kind of man his father was—principled, strong-willed, and deeply devoted to his family.
When Omar’s father passed away, his entire world shifted. He had no time to think about dreams or personal ambitions; his family needed him. So, he stepped into his father’s shoes, running the shop, ensuring they had enough to get by. He never had the chance to finish a diploma, but now, after years of sacrifice, he is finally completing his engineering degree. It’s not easy balancing everything, but Omar has never been one to back down from a challenge.
Despite the hardships, he finds joy in both of his callings. He loves the sea, the freedom of captaining a boat, the way the waves carry him. But he also loves his shop—the rhythm of weighing fresh produce, the conversations with customers, the satisfaction of providing people with good food at fair prices. He has come to understand how important it is to eat well, to nourish both body and soul.
More than anything, he dreams of owning a piece of organic land, of growing his own fruits and vegetables, of selling produce that he knows is clean and healthy. He wants to offer people food straight from the earth, untouched by chemicals, just as nature intended.
Even now, he still stocks green apples in the shop. Maybe it’s habit, or maybe it’s something deeper—a way to stay connected to the past, to the father who shaped him, to the love that was always present, even in something as simple as an apple set aside at the end of the day.
The shop may not bring in much profit, and times are tough, but Omar doesn’t do this for the money. He does it because it keeps him rooted. It keeps his father’s legacy alive. It keeps him connected to something real.
And so, he carries on, balancing between the land and the sea, between past and future, between duty and dreams.
Chloe Khoury
Chloe is a Lebanese filmmaker and photographer whose work centers on social issues, personal struggles, and underrepresented voices in Lebanon. With a background in communications and an MA in Marketing and Sustainable Development, she uses her camera as a tool for advocacy and storytelling. Her work has been recognized and exhibited at CAMERA Torino (in partnership with ICP), Olhares Do Mediterraneo Film Festival, Beirut Art District, and Gulf Photo Plus. Through her lens, Chloe connects deeply with people and places—turning the act of photographing into a powerful form of witnessing and belonging.
- Chloe Khoury
- Chloe Khoury
- Chloe Khoury
- Chloe Khoury
