The Journalist

Part 58: The Doldrums of the Earth

I don't understand what one of the men said. Including the same sentence spout that almost everyone here said. However, seeing Ahmed kneeling with a battered face, Ameena immediately mentioned Khalila's name with teary eyes, as well as the cries of the people who were here, it made me realize something bad had happened to Mr. Ali and the other men. It was more sad than I thought. The man announced that Mr. Ali and the other troops had been killed at the scene of the battle.

"Mr Ali .. chose to stand on the front line. He received four shots. In fact, until the last moment of his breath, he still had time to run to the enemy troops just to throw a grenade. His body was destroyed along with the explosion" said the man with a mourning face. He also handed over a turban belonging to Mr. Ali that had been drenched in blood.

It's shaken! My eyes were round in disbelief. Mr Ali is dead? Is it true, Mr Ali died? I questioned it repeatedly in my heart. His warm face, his wise speech, the way he greeted me, until his trademark smile suddenly loomed in my memory.

Ahmed received Mr. Ali's mainstay turban with trembling hands. His expression shattered with tears that instantly filled his cheeks.

"My lord, why did you leave all of us so soon? Aren't you supposed to go home to marry sister Ameena? Don't you want to see Khalila? He's been waiting for you since last night." Ahmed squeezed the turban of Mr. Ali's legacy.

Everyone is sad. Everyone is crying. They had lost a figure who had many roles in this place. As a father to orphans. As a brother to those who have no family. As a benefactor to the poor. And as a fighter for the whole community in this region.

"We must retreat and hide now as he said yesterday!" The man in uniform looked at me. "I heard the Americans say they're going to give our stronghold weapons. I don't know if our people are willing to accept that help. Turkey has also sent its troops to help us. It looks like there's going to be a bigger war, so you better hide for a while!"

Hearing the increasingly precarious and gripping circumstances, none of them were afraid. They are still in mourning over the death of Mr. Ali and several men in the region.

"Ummi!" The sound of Khalila's screams was heard. The little girl ran in a clean white dress that symbolized her innocence.

Ahmed hurriedly put Mr. Ali's turban into his clothes through the collar of his neck. Ameena immediately wiped her tears as she approached Khalila.

"Khalila, are you awake?" ameena asked, crouching and holding Khalila's arm.

"Ummi, why are you all gathered here?" Khalila's eyes flickered, watching us who were bowed and trying to hide her father's death. "Uncle Ahmed, has Abi succeeded in driving away those people who made the ruckus?"

With trembling lips holding back tears, Ahmed nodded. "Yes, you can see, right, now there are no more voices. Your father is our hero."

"Then, where's Abi? Why haven't you come home?"

At the same time, the desing sound of the fighter plane sounded faint. The attention of the people was diverted to look up to the sky. We were surprised to see warplanes have circled this sky. We swerve above us. Inevitably, everyone ran to save themselves. Not for a second, a loud deafening bang sounded. Shaking the ground we were treading. It causes black smoke that rises high. The smell of gunpowder stimulates smell.

"Everyone, get down and breathe with your mouth!" my yelling. When there is an explosion around us, breathing naturally affects the organs in our body.

I ran over to Khalila who was screaming in fear. I wrapped his body in my arms. However, my forehead even collided with someone's forehead. It turned out that it was Ameena who also came to embrace Khalila. Our hands were both coiled around the girl's body. For a moment, our eyes fell in panic.

The sound of the explosion was earthy with the cries of children. The orange light from the fire grabbed our eyes. Missiles are raining down on this village. Plunge the roofs of the houses. It scorches and destroys anything. Buildings are falling apart.

"Hide away! Save children!" ahmed shouted while carrying some children who were the same age as Khalila.

I carried Khalila behind my back, then took her on all fours with Ameena looking for sturdy objects as hiding places. We chose to enter under the table located on the terrace. Fear is stirring up Khalila.

The bomb was dropped at a very close distance to us. It ended the lives of the people he beat up that very second. Destroying buildings that are often used to learn from children in this foundation. Only leaving iron wires sticking out naked. Bodies were lying, blood was pouring. Among them, there are children and women from this foundation.

Dust billowed from the collapsed building, making our visibility limited. I even had trouble seeing Khalila and Ameena in front of me. It only felt a strong squeeze of Ameena and Khalila's hand on my arm.

The beautiful sky is not blue anymore. Not because of cloudiness, but because it was covered in smoke and thick ash. Not because it was covered in clouds, but because it was filled with fighter planes. People were running around looking for shelter while shouting the name of the Lord.

"Ummi, are we going to die here? Where is Abi? Didn't he manage to drive these people away! Why are they still here?" tanyanya while crying roared.

"Khalila, relax, baby!" Ameena stroked Khalila's face covered in tears.

Khalila kept crying. His chest was tight, like he was almost out of oxygen supply. His face was raging in anxiety. His whole body was trembling. Cold sweat came out from the sidelines of his pores. He is only one of the portraits of the suffering of children who are victims of the cruelty of war.

"Capriloque! Khalila!" call Ameena when Khalila's consciousness is thinning. He patted his paled cheek.

"He's having a panic attack!" I lay Khalila on my lap and loosened her clothes.

"Khi, like you said last night. If we keep Khalila here, it'll ruin her mentality." Ameena repeated my words in a stammering tone, "for that, take Khalila right now! Take her away with you! Get him away from this place!"

"Then, what about you?" my many.

"I can't go with you guys ...."

"No! I won't leave either if you don't come with us!" reject me.

"Don't mind me! I can save myself!" her door.

I stared at the unconscious Khalila. "How could Khalila and I leave you here!"

"I can't leave the children alive. They still need our protection. Mr. Ali sacrificed his life to save the children" he replied with teary eyes. There was a vibration of every word he said.

I keep shaking. My feet are reluctant to shift even a little.

"I beg you, Khai! Take Khalila to safety! The place where he didn't hear the sound of explosions and gunfire. Now too! I beg ...." Ameena's voice was so hoarse and almost inaudible at the end of the sentence. He squeezed the end of my jacket with his head lowered. Her tears fell on my knee.

With a heavy heart, I came out of hiding. Standing with Khalila on my back. Not for a minute, I crouched down again to be able to look at his face.

"Mina-chan, I'll be back! I'll come here again. Hide somewhere safe until I come to pick you up! Take good care of yourself!" I said while looking at his face with a pus.

Ameena nodded bitterly. "Don't worry, God always follows the prejudices of His servants."

Again, we had to separate. Although it was not the first time, my heart was not yet that mature to accept this farewell. For some reason, we were always limited by distance, time and circumstances.

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Author notes ⁇ ️️

Today, I am 17 years old 😊😂 (not to be taken seriously). Thank you to the loyal readers who have supported every work of mine on this platform for four years & ''5.

Thank you to the new readers who read this book. Also read my other work that is on going, SIN (DOSEN DARLING) this novel project collaboration between me and the NT editor. At the beginning of the chapter, the story is cliche and cringe because it adjusts the flow determined by the editor. But decided to write this light genre to review things that often happen in society, especially about social construction, toxic relationships, toxic parenting, stereotypes and double standards.