Building David: The Heart of the Story

If The Ticket to Freedom is a house, then David is the foundation.

David didn’t arrive fully formed. He emerged slowly, piece by piece — a young man shaped by fear, tenderness, survival, and hope. I didn’t mold him into existence. I paid attention to who he was becoming as I wrote.

But before he could have a story, he needed a name.

And choosing one was its own journey.

For weeks, I circled different possibilities. Malik was one of the earliest contenders. It carried confidence, warmth, and an energy that felt bold. But the more I explored the emotional landscape of the character, the more I realized Malik didn’t belong to this story — at least not as the protagonist.

David needed a name that carried quiet resilience. Vulnerability. A softness that mirrored the internal struggles he carried.

When “David” came to me, it landed with clarity — gentle but certain.

A name with history.

A name with weight.

A name that fit the quieter courage of someone learning to claim space in his own life.

And once he had his name, the rest of him began to unfold:

• The silence he learned as protection
• The longing he carried for love that didn’t punish honesty
• The fractured but deeply rooted connection to home
• The ache of navigating two countries and two selves

He became more than a character — he became a living, breathing emotional core. Someone I could sit across from and understand.

And in building him, I learned things about myself too.

Tune in for more next week.