got shot. He’d spent the remainder of the week in an emergency bunker just across the street from the first one, but this time he was surrounded by enemies: the Christians from the east side. Both sides were used to constantly exchanging wounded, supplies, and news in addition to the dirty jokes and the insults they would scream at each other every day.
In these clothes, Tamer knew he looked exactly like the Christians. He had let his beard grow during the past week; his hair was shaggy, and his attitude was as cynical and detached as his companions’. If he had to die for a cause that wasn't his and die on the same side as people he considered his worst enemies, so be it! He would fight one last time before leaving this country for good. The only heartache would be that he’d have to leave Nora behind.
The west side of Beirut was starting to recover; buildings were getting fixed, and streets were starting to grow crowded again with honking cars, pedestrians, and sidewalk cafés. The east side of Beirut was still a war zone, though; its buildings were destroyed, its streets empty, and its men armed. The contrast was shocking even for Tamer, who had thought himself immune to the sight of destruction and desolation created by bombs .
In the early morning, after another sleepless night, people furtively got out of the bunkers where they were spending the nights with their families and ne ighbors. The shopkeepers only opened their doo rs halfway, ready close them fast at the first sound of bombs. Women holding their kids’ hands hurried across the street to get whatever food they could find at the grocery stores, non-perishables that w ould last a week without refrigeration. Some teenagers had to carry empty gallon jugs and bottles a long way before they found drinking water.
During this reprieve in the early morning, the men went out to check out the damage from the night’s bombings. They would usually find that someone’s car had gotten destroyed, or they’d find that one of their apartments was hit by a bomb. Neighbors helped each other to salvage whatever they could from the rubble.
Then news would travel by word of mouth; it was mostly about who had won the overnight battles, who had gotten killed, and who had been wounded. Even if the listeners knew the victims, there were no unnecessary exclamations or cries. Just these questions would slip out: "Where will the funerals be? Which church? When?"
Tamer followed Pierre through these streets until they arrived at a military base, an old public school sandwiched between two buildings. He met a bunch of guys there who started calling him Tony. Then he and many others climbed into a truck heading for the heart of the battlefield, which was some blocks away. He and two of his comrades ran and hid behind one of the buildings which the army hadn’t taken yet. There, with one last thought of Nora and their lost love, he opened fire with a sour taste in his mouth.
XX.
“I’ll be staying here for a while.” Back in her room, Nora had to confront Rheem again. It was almost night by the time she left Tamer’s house, so she couldn’t cross the line and go see her mom. Her only choice was to return to the hospital. She had to find someone ready enough to take the risk and go with her tomorrow. At the moment, heading for the east side of Beirut was considered suicidal. The bombing was continuous, and the fights weren’t just all over the streets, but everywhere.
"Hey Nora, I told you I'm sorry about what happened."
"Oh please, Rheem. Let's not talk, okay?"
The atmosphere between them was tense, but Nora didn't care. She was hardly aware of her surroundings. In her mind, she kept reviewing the events that had just taken place like she was stuck in a never-ending nightmare. She felt like she was under anesthesia, completely numb. The pain was so deep that — like a third degree burn —no feeling remain ed anymore. ‘Check on my mom. Look for Tamer.’ These
In these clothes, Tamer knew he looked exactly like the Christians. He had let his beard grow during the past week; his hair was shaggy, and his attitude was as cynical and detached as his companions’. If he had to die for a cause that wasn't his and die on the same side as people he considered his worst enemies, so be it! He would fight one last time before leaving this country for good. The only heartache would be that he’d have to leave Nora behind.
The west side of Beirut was starting to recover; buildings were getting fixed, and streets were starting to grow crowded again with honking cars, pedestrians, and sidewalk cafés. The east side of Beirut was still a war zone, though; its buildings were destroyed, its streets empty, and its men armed. The contrast was shocking even for Tamer, who had thought himself immune to the sight of destruction and desolation created by bombs .
In the early morning, after another sleepless night, people furtively got out of the bunkers where they were spending the nights with their families and ne ighbors. The shopkeepers only opened their doo rs halfway, ready close them fast at the first sound of bombs. Women holding their kids’ hands hurried across the street to get whatever food they could find at the grocery stores, non-perishables that w ould last a week without refrigeration. Some teenagers had to carry empty gallon jugs and bottles a long way before they found drinking water.
During this reprieve in the early morning, the men went out to check out the damage from the night’s bombings. They would usually find that someone’s car had gotten destroyed, or they’d find that one of their apartments was hit by a bomb. Neighbors helped each other to salvage whatever they could from the rubble.
Then news would travel by word of mouth; it was mostly about who had won the overnight battles, who had gotten killed, and who had been wounded. Even if the listeners knew the victims, there were no unnecessary exclamations or cries. Just these questions would slip out: "Where will the funerals be? Which church? When?"
Tamer followed Pierre through these streets until they arrived at a military base, an old public school sandwiched between two buildings. He met a bunch of guys there who started calling him Tony. Then he and many others climbed into a truck heading for the heart of the battlefield, which was some blocks away. He and two of his comrades ran and hid behind one of the buildings which the army hadn’t taken yet. There, with one last thought of Nora and their lost love, he opened fire with a sour taste in his mouth.
XX.
“I’ll be staying here for a while.” Back in her room, Nora had to confront Rheem again. It was almost night by the time she left Tamer’s house, so she couldn’t cross the line and go see her mom. Her only choice was to return to the hospital. She had to find someone ready enough to take the risk and go with her tomorrow. At the moment, heading for the east side of Beirut was considered suicidal. The bombing was continuous, and the fights weren’t just all over the streets, but everywhere.
"Hey Nora, I told you I'm sorry about what happened."
"Oh please, Rheem. Let's not talk, okay?"
The atmosphere between them was tense, but Nora didn't care. She was hardly aware of her surroundings. In her mind, she kept reviewing the events that had just taken place like she was stuck in a never-ending nightmare. She felt like she was under anesthesia, completely numb. The pain was so deep that — like a third degree burn —no feeling remain ed anymore. ‘Check on my mom. Look for Tamer.’ These
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