Sinjar still the same, the road as dusty as before, even the reek of wormwood as nauseating, but when Nisreen approached their house she knew that everything had changed.
It’s windows were like vacant eyes, a door whined in the persistent wind.
In her heart she had always known that men and boys had been murdered while Erum and mother had been sold… or worse.
Why did only she escape?
Sighing she entered the house when suddenly a voice calling:
“Nisreen, it’s you… “
Erum and a baby… a blue-eyed boy.
Nisreen flinched but never hesitated.
“Good, we need a man”.
© Jean L. Hays
The picture reminded me of some of the pictures I have seen from the Yazidi villages that were invaded by ISIS and I imagine the huge problems for the survivors. Especially those poor women who had children with their captors and are now not allowed to keep them to be accepted if they want to get back to their families.
Friday Fictioneers is a group of bloggers who follow Rochelle and write to the same picture every week. The only restriction is 100 words and to read and comment as well as you can. I usually have a hard time to read a lot before Sunday. But I try to get back to you all.
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May 8, 2019
How to pick up a life after what these people have been through? A reminder of how much the human spirit can persevere.
I think it’s possible… after all it has happened before.
Powerful words on ghastly events, Bjorn.
Bravely done.
Ghastly and horrifying… and we have not heard it all yet.
Few changes are more terrible
The things some people have to live through is haunting.
Powerful piece, Bjorn. It’s hard to imagine that sort of horror that so many people have to live through.
I find the hardest thing that it’s possible to imagine… I can imagine it unfortunately.
The realities of war and the ravages of women and girl in the war are an ongoing stain on humanity. All too often girls are kidnapped, swindled, sweet-talked, threatened, sold, raped, married-off, trafficked, tortured, and brutalized. And yet when/if they manage to escape or get their bearings or find a way out, they are once again victimized for ‘no longer being a virgin’ or for having a child they never asked to be impregnated with to now care for, suspected of betrayal, shunned, and driven to more trafficking and rape and slavery.
I am glad that in your story, the woman is accepted back – and her innocent child with her, too – and that the impossibly reality is understood. It is the least any of us can do. To help heal some of the awfulness many of us may never be able to understand.
Nicely done.
Na’ama
I fear that we don’t know yet everything that have gone… but we will meet them in times to come I think
Such a terrible situation. I’m glad Nisreen is willing to accept the little one.
I think that she realized that it was the only way… though the child will be a constant reminder.
You give a chilling and poetic account of horror taking place on this beautiful Earth. I am now reading the book ‘ Malala ‘ which gives a
deep and vivid insight.
miriam
I have only read the news… and then tried to think what it would mean.
A reflection on an impossible situation. Well done.
The choices are hard, but sometimes it works if you prioritize children.
The worse of humankind. This is how I think hell on earth would be.
Powerful writing.
I’m not sure that I believe in hell… but earth is bad enough…
It’s unimaginable what some have gone through.
and what some men have done…
I’m reading a book about this very thing and it makes my skin crawl, as did your story, but in a good way. Well captured, Bjorn.
I have only read the news… and that is sometimes worse than anything I could ever imagine.
A great piece on a surely despicable crime, really demonstrates mans inhumanity to man because they have a different God or whatever, unbelievable. Great stuff
I wonder if it’s about God or just something else…
Excellent writing, Bjorn. Every word just breathes life into the story.
Thank you… there has been so many things in the news to fill the stories with life.
So much backlash against women in too much of the world. The overall anger and hatred makes my head, and heart, ache daily
I think that is part of it… the rest is xenophobia
Excellent writing, Björn. Sensitively told. It is an awful reality for far too many and I, too, am glad you had Nisreen accepting.
I think Nisreen is brave… and wish everyone else could be that too.
Powerful story, and an even more powerful explanation note. In Korea, the children of American fathers and Korean girls were called “dust children”–as if they didn’t really exist.
In most of Germany the children to German Soldiers in occupied countries grew up with a terrible stigma.
In most of Europe I meant.
Aother of the tragic results of war.
A good story that fits in with the recent news, Bjorn. There is now a whole tent city of mostly women and children left from the last bunch of ISIS fighters most of whom were killed in western Syria. No one knows what to do with them. The women are dying and the children are malnourished. It’s horrible. No country wants them. —- Suzanne
I know… some of them are now getting back to Europe..
Dear Bjorn,
What horrible crimes against women…and all too common. Well told story of love and acceptance.
Shalom,
Rochelle
I think children should not be punished in any way…
This is a powerful piece of injustice and the struggle to persevere. Excellent!
The image told me of struggle that I think exists everywhere…
Those fighters for a pure state are not very pure themselves. Nisreen’s practical approach to life will help her survive.
It will help both her an her sister…
Unflinchingly told, and such an important issue to speak about. It ‘s so barbaric that men raping women in war situations is seen by some as a legitimate ‘weapon’.
It’s not legitimate … but sometimes I find it hard to call any weapon really legitimate
At least Nisreen made the right response to her sister’s child.
Oh yes… she saw that she needed her sister too.
At least she’s able to overcome her prejudices.
Even in darkness there can be light
Great story Bjorn though very upsetting too. Those poor girls
Indeed… and poor brothers too… who were slaughtered.
Excellent story, Bjorn, and the opening sentence is terrific. People do appalling things for power. I like the way you show the resilience of the human spirit in your story.
Yikes! Such a dark place.