Strong Like Steel
After a minute of silence, he said, “An old beggar used to sit at the corner of our street. When I came back from the battlefield, he told me everything.” He was quiet for a few seconds. “Kelly, he said that it was on a pleasant day. Children were playing outside in the street. Suddenly, there were planes flying overhead and the wailing of bombs all around. People ran here and there for cover. The bombing brought down all the houses on the street. This old beggar was one of the few who managed to survive the bombing. My father was coming out of the house with my daughter when a wall fell on them.”
After another pause, he added, “When I left for my duty, it was a happy house in which people lived, children played, and the stove was lit every day. When I came back, there was nothing but rubble. After that, defending my nation and fighting for my people became my one and only calling.”
“Sounds like an awfully lonely way for you to live,” said Kelly. “Don’t you think you are merely existing, Ali? You cannot carry on like this.” Her voice was very soft.
Ali let out a short, sad laugh. “No, Kelly. No, it has made me strong like steel. When you disconnect, when you do not let anyone come near you, you are not hurt. You don’t feel the pain.” He lowered his gaze, but Kelly could see the tears in his eyes. Ali was surprised with himself for having opened his heart to Kelly like this. He was surprised because he had tears in his eyes in front of a woman. Still, he felt much better after talking to Kelly. He felt light, as if a burden had been lifted off his chest. Things hadn’t been easy for Ali; he had been used against his own country. His own people had betrayed him and people who were not his own people were supporting him, and though they were not his people, they did think like him.
Kelly moved closer to Ali and touched his hair with her hand. Softly, she said, “And you think you can never again know peace? Love?. That’s an empty life.”