Nightmares Tuesday, 25 July 2006
Posted by Sedna in Fiction, Rant, War.trackback
Mohammed woke up with a start. His heart was beating wildly and a cold sweat covered his forehead and back. He pushed the covers away with his right hand and sat up trying to breathe slowly. It was a matter of seconds before he realized what had disturbed his sleep. The nightmares rendered the tranquilizers and sedatives quite useless. His body refused to cooperate with the drugs flowing through his system – the stronger the doses, the less sleep the thirteen year-old got.The recurring nightmare was not really a nightmare, in the sense that it was not a figment of his imagination. It was simply the worst scenes he had ever seen, mismashed together in the most horrific way by his over-worked brain and replayed in slow motion. The “nightmares” caught him off-guard. Sometimes, one of the nurses would be trying to feed him…and Mohammed would suddenly see his mother wander through the door. Her face twisted in agony, clutching his three year-old sister close to her body. Sometimes he would hear his father talking just down the hall and Mohammed would call out to him…He would call out in vain.
The first crash was loud and it woke him up. The whole house shook and the window nearest his bed shattered. Mohammed screamed. And screamed and screamed. His baby sister cried. His mother was begging God to spare her children. Abu Mohammed ran into his son’s room and urged him to get out. Mohammed stumbled in the dark. He made it to the street and all around him children cried, women wailed. The noise was unbelievable and the air was clammy. They said someone had died. That’s why there was blood everywhere. A neighbor took his hand and led him to a house down the road. Mohammed never saw his family again…Days later he was transferred to a hospital far from his town. He knew nobody save for the little boy in the bed across from him. The little boy who lost his voice forever. The fright and the shock left him speechless. Imad’s family did not survive the brutal Israeli attack either. He lost his parents and four siblings. The two boys were survivors – though Mohammed did not want to be a survivor. He often wished he was with his parents and Laila. Wherever they were…He never stopped thinking about his house, his room, his friends, the days spent at the river. He remembered how his sister laughed when he got on all fours and bounded around the room barking at her playfully, pretending to bite her chubby legs. He remembered his father’s smell, his mother’s voice…he remembered everything. But every time his eyes drifted to his elbow, Mohammed would frown in confusion. He could not remember what happened to the rest of his arm, or why his elbow ended in a bloody stump…
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“Please join us in front of the Lebanese Embassy on Monday July 24, 2006. We would like to give our condolences and support to the Lebanese people in the form of an orderly, silent gathering by holding candles and laying flowers”
Did anyone else get that text message? I’m not sure the ceremony took place, and I don’t want to ridicule those who attended. That was a sweet gesture – but is it really what Lebanon needs right now? How many lives did you save by laying flowers? Are those candles you lit going to stop the missiles from raining on Lebanon? By standing there that night did you manage to comfort a crying child, recently orphaned? Did your ‘orderly gathering’ feed a hungry family whose possessions and provisions were destroyed by the ruthless enemy?
Yes, you have showed compassion and sympathy. Well done. But think about it. Lebanon – and its people – need more than that. You could have spent that time at home in prayer. You don’t pray? Fine then, donate. Donate whatever you can – blankets, canned foods, clothes, money – to the Lebanese Embassy. You can help and you can make a difference. The question is how…
I love it, Seddie-Cakes. The way he and Imad are shown as two survivors is beautiful. And the part in which you recounted the happy memories of the kids is painfully beautiful.
Keep writing, m’love…
Uh, just a .. prophecy, if you like. This time it’ll be the opposite of last time ..
Scarlie honey:
Sigh, no matter what we write we will not be able to caputre a nation’s pain. The story is relevant to the Palestinians as well, may God be with them.
PS. lol yessy I think so too.
It’s quite OBVIOUS bas shhhhh!!
PPS. Tarra we’re not that good at “predictions”
Speak about yerself, missy..
I know that I’m very good at predicting things …
*stirs toads and cat tails in pot*
Scarlie:
Yal sa7ra =|
Yeah well I can predict the WEATHER… tomorrow is going to be real hot in Kuwait
One may demonstrate as well as doing those other things you said. No, you havent saved a childs life, but you’ve shown that you actually do care, unlike most of the people out there who probably think they do, but dont really. Apparently 10 000 people demonstrated in Madrid. Even in Israel people showed their disapproval and their support for the lebanese. Yet here in the arab world we hear barely a whisper. A few people grumble, but otherwise its complete silence. And when people DO get together to show they care and they want to see an end to this, they’re ridiculed. No wonder theres not a peep from the arab world.
Anon:
You’re anonymity speaks volumes – but let us not get personal.
If all we aim at is “showing” that we care, then our actions are surface deep. Why must we “show” and “appear” to care? If one’s actions are sincere and heartfelt then one should NOT try to show others, but do them for the sake of doing good.
A demonstration may show your disapproval, but how on earth is your disapproval necessary/appropriate in a situation such as this? I condemn the Israeli attack. Do you think walking the streets and putting up signs will awaken “their” conscience? Let’s be realistic, please. Here in the Arab world as you put it, there might not have been zealous, frantic throngs of people in the streets, but, countless articles are written by people who are expressing their views – and the money raised for the Lebanese people through donations and charities shows the extent of our care.
Lebanon knows who is with it at its time of need and who is simply pulling on an act.
Sometimes well-timed silence is more eloquent than speech.
Well said
Euphoria:
Thanks
Absolutely captivating. And very, very sad!
oh wow, this is the most beautiful blog i’ve seen yet. i hopped over from jewaira and i’m glad i did!
Fedo:
*sigh* The whole situation is very very sad.
Phaedrus:
Awwww!!!!!!!! Major compliment!! =|
Thank you!! Glad you liked
protests ins audi are illegal right?
u hear ppl make a dozen speeches but it seems the only way to really help is to be right there.shoulder to shoulder.id love to do some red cross work.
Diabz:
Hmm madree 3an Saudi 9ara7a.. but you’re right. I would love to do volunteer for the red cross/crescent or any of the similar organizations
you made a disater turn into a great piece of writing…sad content..confusing, the world is i guess chimming and at its end…god save us from the chaos more to come…war is never the answer yet in our society in our world…it’s the only way to live and be…if you get what i mean…anywhoo loved the piece…want more…and where’s part two of playing with fire :** i missed your posts
great post as usual! u seem to find beauty in everything around u even war (not that u portray war as beautiful u know what i mean)..i totally agree with u a simple demonstration is not going to help all those lost lives but it is a nice gesture but again this is not the time for nice gestures it is a time to grieve and pray for those who have left us and for the end of this horrible nightmare
Your Battlefield:
The thing is, it’s not a mere war of ideologies, but a dirty game where the only ones who are suffering are those who have nothing to do with politics
Aww my blog missed you too :*
Part II of playing with fire will be coming up as soon as possible honey
Tinkerbell:
If demonstrations have the slightest chance of making a difference – I would say go right ahead and demonstrate…but if this war (or any other war) is going to end, it needs action and cooperation. Not in the form of gatherings, but more movements like the Red Crescent/Cross.. etc. People who are willing to risk their lives to save others.
Yes, I read it at work…
Usual words: sad, touching, etc.
But those words
“But every time his eyes drifted to his elbow, Mohammed would frown in confusion. He could not remember what happened to the rest of his arm, or why his elbow ended in a bloody stump…”
I still feel cold…
That`s terrible…
& precious as an act of art.
I agree about help… we must give somethings… not all those “flowers, candleses”.
I`m very angry about Lebanese government… rrrrr…
Going to write about it, because (it seems to me) people don`t understand what I mean by my post.
Not good & pity :-/
Sever:
And what I wrote is probably nothing compared to what people are going through.
It is terrible
But honey, don’t be angry at the Lebanese government, you can direct your hate/anger at those who seriously deserve it.
Yeah, I’m not sure I understood your post, so please do explain
Thank you for the comment sweetie.
love the tone, not too raw not too ‘reader-friendly’.. definitely a different side to your writing
all the more reason for me to keep nagging that you should write a poem
Temetwir:
*big grin after reading those compliments*
Will do inshalla
loved the post, very effective in getting ur msg across
Princess:
Thanks! For the comment and the visit =) Been ages!