The Salon explores the powerful memoir by Tarek El-Ariss Water on Fire: A Memoir of War. The book traces his journey from war-torn Beirut to exile and self-discovery across continents, weaving together memory, loss, and resilience. Through a lyrical and introspective narrative, El-Ariss reflects on how literature becomes a space for confronting trauma, transforming pain into creativity, and finding meaning amid displacement and longing.