by Herlina

Created on: August 23, 2010

Esmail looked at the swirling black smoke over  the Northern town of Jabaliya. Flares lit up the skies as Israeli helicopters and fighter jets flew low over the city. He could see huge flames had fully confiscated his land, his home, his heart… a land he had longed dream of… He could hear the deafening sound of bombs and artilleries resulting from the bombardments. Thes skies turned red…red as blood. He screamed aloud with choking breath “We will not die today! Our sons shall rise in great numbers!” He lifted up his fist with force. He turned away from the crowds… He changed his course … he wiped her image away. The lady in his head called aloud for him but he ignored her. His will was unbreakable now. He would not abandon his people…he looked again at her saying “I’m so sorry Grand but I have to return. Our land screams for help…this is a promise I’ve made since I was born.” Tears fogged his eyes as he run towards Gaza City…away from Rafah border.

 “Grandma, I’m still going. It’s safe, I ensure you that. Ahmed will guarantee my safety.” Esmail shoveled his mini laptop into his  leather back bag. It’s the last gadget he brought for his work. He threw a crooked smile and stepped closer to his gradma. He put his big muscular arms around her.

“Oh, come on Your Majesty. This royal guard will only go for a few days. Soon after covering his job, he shall return at your side again. It’s just two days. I’ll be back before new year’s eve.” He kissed her softly in the forehead…trying to tease her with one little good humor.

“Esmail, I’m too old to bear another loss. Why can’t you go somewhere else? Somehere safe… You can cover story of Iranian President over the nuclear weapon…or cover up the latest news in Afganistan … going into Palestina is insane.” She pleaded.  She held his face into her wrinkled hands. She looked at his grey eyes. Something caught her. They were so deep like an ocean without endless depth. They gave her peace. She could see a crescent mark on his left cheek. Time did not heal it. It was there… a token of her family history…of a robbed generation…of a robbed land. Her fingers trailed on the visible mark…it sent her fire as she touched it…tears were now rolling from her eyes.

“What’s

• 1
• 2
• 3
• ...
• 7
• Next Page >>