Excerpt
from the days of war, from the days that the Americans invaded our country. The
black days of bombings, and the nights of the missiles, the American missiles,
spreading freedom, as your leaders told you in the national news for days and
days. Spreading freedom to our country; however, they never asked who invited
them to do that? Did we invite them? And those weapons they were looking for,
nowhere to be found. Yet, they never told you about the thousands of Iraqis
killed, about the thousands of homes destroyed, about the thousands of orphans
like myself and Hakim, and all the others. They never told you about the
innocent civilians who shouldered so much misery that your people call
democracy and freedom. That’s the reason for my sadness and melancholy. Do
you understand, sweet Emily?”
She is astonished at his tone, so sarcastic, ironic, and rude, but how can she
blame him? He’s obviously upset, his eyes like a sky of leaden clouds. She regrets
having started such a conversation. She doesn’t like to upset him. Perhaps all he
said is true. She suspects it’s not the way they have thought all along. Does she
feel the guilt for what happened?
“Oh, I’m sorry I brought up memories of things that upset you so much. I
don’t mean to get you feeling this way. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, sweet Emily, why do we want to talk about these things that make us so
uncomfortable? Yet, this is where the truth lies, in things that we leave for
another day because they frighten us. Yes, I remember with terrible pain the days
of the war. We suffered enough. Thousands of people were killed. One questions
why? Why does one nation attack another? They do so for power and a greed for
power, for money and the power that money brings, out of greed for control, and
for so many reasons. Why did Hitler wage war in Europe more than seventy
years ago? He did it for the same stupidity. Why did the United States start a war
against Iraq? For some stupidity, as well. Wars, my sweet Emily, never resolve the
problems the world has at times; wars only create more problems. On the other
hand, look at the bright side of it. You and I have met because of that war, isn’t
that amazing?”
He smiles and kisses her. Silence takes hold of their minds like a
well-seated queen on her rich fluffy throne, as she stays there close to him,
wishing she could stay like that for a long time. Emily still is not happy with
his answer to why his expression always has sadness, and she promises herself
to find out. Then she looks at her watch. It’s 3:15 and she has to get home
before Matt calls, which usually happens around 3:30. She tells Talal and he
starts the car. Again, they drive past the rich Hollywood mansions although
silence has taken over and they don’t exchange a word until they get to her
place. She wants so much to ask him to come in, yet she doesn’t have …
Libros Libertad 