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She froze, waiting for me to answer her question. But I just stared at her because I couldn’t find a word. Finally I simply said, “Just thinking.”
We both chuckled.
She placed some magazines between us, took one and buried her face in it.
I stared into space, wandering into
little boy world again. My eyes caught magazines sitting beside me. And there it was, edition of TIME that brought me here in first place. I took it up. She looked at me puzzled.
“ Can I read this? Been looking for it all day”
“Sure. It’s an old edition, you can keep it”
I thanked her, took it and walked away.
Back home, I flipped through ads, politics and other pages that has nothing to do with my new friend. I got to page with caption, “Defenseless Target” and below caption it reads, “close to 350 die, half of them children, after Chechen rebels take an entire school hostage.” And I realised that I have more than just a little boy to meet.
Despite fact that my friends have increased in number, my heart was captivated by a nine years old boy who was among other twelve hundred hostages who celebrated first day of school. And were kept hostage for three days. He was among those who were stripped to their panties. He was among those who were forced to either thirst to death dehydrated or drink their urines if they needed to live. He was among little children who should be playing video game in front of some TV but were left with no choice than to stare at bombs, which designed school’s gymnasium like some festoon of flowers. He was among those whose life guerrillas have chosen to sacrifice to achieve their stupid desire. To make it worse for him, his mother was also held hostage.
Elena Kasumova, a teacher in school, was strong from first day when school was taken hostage. But third day, her hope was running out and that was when unthinkable happened. She got more than a hope from her nine years old son, Timur Kasumova.
When Elena had chosen to give up, believing herself, her son, Timur and many others were going to thirst to death. Her son crawled close to her, massaged her feet, kissed her and told her stories about all water and juice they would drink when they would be free from hands of guerrillas. He comforted her, renewing her strength to hang on.
And now five months later, as I sit here writing this inspiring true life story, I know Elena and her son, Timur, are somewhere in Russian (if they are still there) drinking all water and juice he had told her about while trying to forget that painful experience.
Though you have read this story but what I’m trying to say to you is more than just lines. You need know one thing. When tough time (challenges) comes your way and you have exhausted all your strength, there is always a little more strength within, which you need to break through. Timur Kasumova did that in face of a hopeless situation some months ago. He hung on to strength within.
Coming soon, “Haiku with love” An inspiring poetry collection by A.Z. Alfred. To be published by Author House, USA. www.writesight.com/blackzeal101
A.Z. Alfred is a writer and a motivational speaker whose greatest pleasure is observing the world through a window while listening to inspirational songs.
