The War - Chapter 5

My mum sat on the opposite of me. In front of us laid a cup of coffee each, served with a couple of biscuits prepared by aunt Lucy. There was an awkward silence, and an ominous feeling that I was going to discover a grotesque truth. And indeed I was.

So my mum began to speak.

"So how was your life in the village?"
"It was fun. But I missed you so much,"

There was a minute of silence.

"Well dear, seems like my feet is useless now eh?"

I did not dare to reply.

"Honestly speaking, I was tortured"
"What do you mean?"

My mum paused, then continued.

"You see dear, while you were away in the village, I was working, helping the military. I, or rather, we were forced there. Tortured, abused, or anything of some sorts you cay say"

"We were given only two meals per day. There was no lunch. Only breakfast and dinner. Life was horrible, it was dirty and unimaginable"

"Then one day, I was supposed to carry bombs into a plane. The commander was unhappy with my speed so he pushed me. I fell down and the bomb hit my knee."

"Can you imagine? A 30 kilo bomb, landing on my knee?"

"And he even said 'You work too slow! Hurry!' and he kicked me"

"The pain was unbearable and I could not work anymore, so they sent me to the hospital."

"And that was when I know the truth. I could no longer walk anymore"

My mum stopped talking. And I was shocked. My heart filled with despair and anger. Hatred burning inside me. My fists were clenched, and I wanted to kill those commanders. But then my mum continued again.

"But dear, let it go. I have forgotten about everything. All I wanted to do is for the war to stop and for all of us to return home safely again. As long as I can serve the country and..."

I interrupted.

"No mum, you are wrong. How could you say such words when they even tortu.."

My mum put her finger on my lips.

"No more. It's over dear. The war is over, everything is over."

I sat down and kept quiet. My eyes were drenched with tears of hatred and sadness. I sobbed softly and my mum came over by my side to hug me. I continued to cry, somehow it was unstoppable.

Then I realised. My mum was not a victim of the war. She was a victim of a human's pride and selfishness. A victim of a human's wish to take over the world. Yet, she did not relinquish. She never give up and she never points a finger at anyone.

Now I wonder. If my mum is wiser than the commanders. If the commanders have ever thought of who pays the price of war. If they even know how many people suffered from it.

And all these victims can do. Is to wept in silence.

-THE END-