She tried to escape alone across the salt pans when they arrived with their kill lists and machetes. She’d had no time to join up with others and, separated from her family, walked out of town and across those plains alone; away from civilisation turned feral and toward the unknown.
As she fled she felt the presence of the assassins more and more as the heat and lack of water ground her down. As she dropped to her knees she thought of her family, hoping their international connection would keep them safe and that this would be the last time.
As she fled she felt the presence of the assassins more and more as the heat and lack of water ground her down. As she dropped to her knees she thought of her family, hoping their international connection would keep them safe and that this would be the last time.
Note: Written for Friday Fictioneers from the picture prompt below. This photo reminded me of the story of a Rwandan Genocide survivor who, in 1991, three years before the genocide, was evacuated to Brussels during a Rwandan Patriotic Front Coup. Her grandmother, however, sadly died while trying to avoid killings by attempting to walk to the border alone.
Copyright - Dawn Q. Landau
I hope her family made it out too. A poignant story.
ReplyDeleteVery nice clean writing for such an emotive story. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteA timely story... makes you think of all those unfortunate people who have to flee their homes and countries. Well written.
ReplyDeleteDear Jim,
ReplyDeleteThe tension came through loud and clear. Hope they made it out alive.
shalom,
Rochelle
Jim, I hope everyone, including her, made it out alive. Well written. : ) ---Susan
ReplyDelete