As I crawled through the burnt-out village, I was horrified by the sight. Small, burned bodies
Turdiyeva Guloyim | Uzbekistan
For some reason my body is throbbing with pain… my eyelashes are heavy as if they are stuck together… I opened my eyes with difficulty. What? Where am I? I raised my head to stand up, but the pain in my neck made it impossible.
I was about to move again, when a man with a mustache, a beard, and gray hair crawled up to me: “Do you want them to open a window over your head, lie down!!” he shouted.
Then he took a seat next to me. I could hear rumbling and popping sounds from all around, and the sounds of someone screaming could be heard. I couldn’t understand where I was. As I stared at the people lying face down in their trench coats, one of my companions suddenly stood up and threw a grenade, shouting “Devils!”
At that moment, hot blood splashed on my face, and the young man who was standing there fell down next to me with a “swish”! I stood there numb, barely opening my eyes, and the last thing I saw were those angry, bloodshot eyes… Damn it! That unpleasant pain again!
When I opened my eyes, I realized that I was being dragged like a sack of potatoes by two soldiers. Where were they dragging me? Blood mixed with mud underfoot… All sorts of corpses were lying around, and one of them was cut in two… (Apparently a grenade had hit him)
As I crawled through the burnt-out village, I was horrified by the sight. Small, burned bodies!!!! How could people be so evil? What was wrong with these babies? Did they deserve to be burned like this and trampled underfoot? My mind began to spin again with endless questions. I fell to the ground, my thoughts scattered. As I tried to straighten up, one of them came and made me sit down. It was amazing, so many people; women, children, old people, soldiers, everyone was on their knees!!
The cracking sounds began again…..
Bodies falling to the ground one after another……
The sounds of children screaming…..
I closed my eyes helplessly….
I raised my heavy eyelashes because of the ghost that appeared above me. Those bloodshot eyes again… Alas, I forgot everything. Who I was, where I was, what was happening was no longer interesting. With the hatred that was erupting from within me, I smiled venomously at the bloodthirsty man in front of me. Naturally, the bloodthirsty man in front of me was furious, he hit me on the head with his weapon, and I fell on my side. However, I did not feel pain, only hatred. I was terrified of my helplessness… The bloodthirsty man was not satisfied and got up again, the butt of his weapon was right there on my forehead. I woke up from the feather pillow that had fallen on my head, and my mother was swearing at me again above me. As I stood up and looked at the clear sky and the peaceful town, I involuntarily whispered, “Thank God, it was a dream!!!”
Now, the question for you is, was it really a dream????
Read: Me – A Short Story from Uzbekistan
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Turdiyeva Guloyim from Uzbekistan, is author of several scientific articles and creative works. She is also the official member of the “Voice of Girls”, “Young Reformers Council” and “Golden Wing” volunteer.
