Stone by stone
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We’re about to land. I am staring out of the window, watching the ground rush up to me. It is covered with tall, silver buildings that climb into the sky. As I turn my head to the seat in front of me, a sigh leaves my body and my eyelids close. I haven’t said a word since we took off, while the other soldiers have been joking around about getting jobs in pubs and strip clubs as soon as they are settled. I wonder if they envisioned what it’s really going to be like. Back in the camp, old man Frank had told us stories about mates who lost their minds, ending up in houses for mad men, of which many didn’t live to see Christmas. The boys did not take him seriously, as Frank always had a crazy look, with his yellowish eyes and golden front teeth. But after this journey I’m afraid he is right on the matter. Maybe the conventional life is not suited for people like us.
We set foot on land and a sudden gust of wind makes me shiver, something I haven’t felt for a long time. In the hall, our bags appear in front of us brown as they are from dust and dirt. At least it is something that feels familiar, in this shiny place. The sergeants have arranged taxis to bring us to our apartments. The whole ride I had been looking out of the window, as if my silence reflected my feelings.
After saluting the boys, I walk through the door of the apartment that was assigned to me. All the furniture is brand new and the kitchen is full of appliances. The black-and-silver device on the countertop seems to be some new kind of coffee machine. It’s astonishing how technology could evolve in seven years. Suddenly, a pounding sound emerges. As I creep through the hallway, my blood starts pumping faster. The pounding seems to come from the door. I hold my breath and peek through the hole in the door while standing alongside the door. Large brown eyes look me in the eye. It’s a girl, with red hair and a freckled face. I decide to open the door, slowly, while keeping the door slightly ajar. “Hello!”, she said. I notice that I am frowning. She does not seem to have bad intentions, so I try to ease my facial expression. “I hope I’m not bothering you, but I saw that you were moving in and just want to let you know I’m your neighbour! So if you ever need some sugar or something, I live at number 36”, and she points to the door on the right. I must have been staring because it looks like she is waiting for my reply. “I’m sorry”, I reply. “I’m not familiar with things around here”. She smiles. “Oh, that’s okay”, she says. “You know what? Let me show you around!”. Her enthusiasm makes me lift my eyebrows. Before I could even refuse her offer, she told me that I should meet her in the café next door at 9 am tomorrow. Minutes after she left, I shut the door, still confused about what just happened and search for the bedroom of what is supposed to be ‘my apartment’. Shortly after, all I remember was waking up suffocating.
The scenery is very well known to me. The caramel-coloured hills as far as I could see, the absence of trees filled with thin-leaved bushes and the blurry visions of little paradises they call oases. My mates and I are heading to the border of Egypt by foot from Al-Jawf, a town southeast of Libya. Everything seems to be fine, until a squeaking sound from the air followed by a blast smashes us into the sand. From then, all I could hear is a sharp, light tone, as if it is only meant for dogs to hear. I get up and turn my head around. On the sand I see the helmets of Kent and Gerald. I shout their names and run towards them, but I couldn’t reach to them as the sand pulls me downwards until my throat is filled with sand.
Droplets of sweat stream down from my forehead. My mouth is dry and I could still feel the light-brown hills absorbing me. After a deep breath and a cold shower, I recall the appointment with the girl next-door. Apparently I forgot to ask her name, or I just couldn’t remember. It is a sunny day outside. The girl is sitting on a chair outside of the café. She is wearing a yellow dress, complementing her bright hair. I sit down with her and she orders us coffee. “Did you have a good night’s rest?”, she asks me. I turn my face to the table. “Not exactly”, I reply and I tell her about my dream. Of course, it was the first night I spent back in the US again and it wasn’t even in the base camp. I am not used to this environment, so I figure it isn’t that strange. But I express the bad feeling I have about living life from now on. “I’m afraid I am just not made for marriage and office hours. I wouldn’t even know how to be such a person”, I reply. “Well, you can try can’t you? You’re not alone you know”. She smiles and moves her hand to the right, indicating that people around here could help me as well. I have rescued many people and I would risk my life for them over and over again, never have I thought about myself. I may not even be able to save myself, that’s not what I’ve been taught. I’m surprised that I open my heart for this girl I don’t even know. She is silent for a while, gazing at me with her wide brown eyes. “I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name last night”, I ask her politely. “Sarah”, she answers while stirring her coffee. “You’ll be okay”, she says. “You’ll have to get out more often, get to know the place and the people. I would love to accompany you”, and with saying that she lifts her coffee and sips from it. “Starting from today”.
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We’re about to land. I am staring out of the window, watching the ground rush up to me. It is covered with tall, silver buildings that climb into the sky. As I turn my head to the seat in front of me, a sigh leaves my body and my eyelids close. I haven’t said a word since we took off, while the other soldiers have been joking around about getting jobs in pubs and strip clubs as soon as they are settled. I wonder if they envisioned what it’s really going to be like. Back in the camp, old man Frank had told us stories about mates who lost their minds, ending up in houses for mad men, of which many didn’t live to see Christmas. The boys did not take him seriously, as Frank always had a crazy look, with his yellowish eyes and golden front teeth. But after this journey I’m afraid he is right on the matter. Maybe the conventional life is not suited for people like us.
We set foot on land and a sudden gust of wind makes me shiver, something I haven’t felt for a long time. In the hall, our bags appear in front of us brown as they are from dust and dirt. At least it is something that feels familiar, in this shiny place. The sergeants have arranged taxis to bring us to our apartments. The whole ride I had been looking out of the window, as if my silence reflected my feelings.
After saluting the boys, I walk through the door of the apartment that was assigned to me. All the furniture is brand new and the kitchen is full of appliances. The black-and-silver device on the countertop seems to be some new kind of coffee machine. It’s astonishing how technology could evolve in seven years. Suddenly, a pounding sound emerges. As I creep through the hallway, my blood starts pumping faster. The pounding seems to come from the door. I hold my breath and peek through the hole in the door while standing alongside the door. Large brown eyes look me in the eye. It’s a girl, with red hair and a freckled face. I decide to open the door, slowly, while keeping the door slightly ajar. “Hello!”, she said. I notice that I am frowning. She does not seem to have bad intentions, so I try to ease my facial expression. “I hope I’m not bothering you, but I saw that you were moving in and just want to let you know I’m your neighbour! So if you ever need some sugar or something, I live at number 36”, and she points to the door on the right. I must have been staring because it looks like she is waiting for my reply. “I’m sorry”, I reply. “I’m not familiar with things around here”. She smiles. “Oh, that’s okay”, she says. “You know what? Let me show you around!”. Her enthusiasm makes me lift my eyebrows. Before I could even refuse her offer, she told me that I should meet her in the café next door at 9 am tomorrow. Minutes after she left, I shut the door, still confused about what just happened and search for the bedroom of what is supposed to be ‘my apartment’. Shortly after, all I remember was waking up suffocating.
The scenery is very well known to me. The caramel-coloured hills as far as I could see, the absence of trees filled with thin-leaved bushes and the blurry visions of little paradises they call oases. My mates and I are heading to the border of Egypt by foot from Al-Jawf, a town southeast of Libya. Everything seems to be fine, until a squeaking sound from the air followed by a blast smashes us into the sand. From then, all I could hear is a sharp, light tone, as if it is only meant for dogs to hear. I get up and turn my head around. On the sand I see the helmets of Kent and Gerald. I shout their names and run towards them, but I couldn’t reach to them as the sand pulls me downwards until my throat is filled with sand.
Droplets of sweat stream down from my forehead. My mouth is dry and I could still feel the light-brown hills absorbing me. After a deep breath and a cold shower, I recall the appointment with the girl next-door. Apparently I forgot to ask her name, or I just couldn’t remember. It is a sunny day outside. The girl is sitting on a chair outside of the café. She is wearing a yellow dress, complementing her bright hair. I sit down with her and she orders us coffee. “Did you have a good night’s rest?”, she asks me. I turn my face to the table. “Not exactly”, I reply and I tell her about my dream. Of course, it was the first night I spent back in the US again and it wasn’t even in the base camp. I am not used to this environment, so I figure it isn’t that strange. But I express the bad feeling I have about living life from now on. “I’m afraid I am just not made for marriage and office hours. I wouldn’t even know how to be such a person”, I reply. “Well, you can try can’t you? You’re not alone you know”. She smiles and moves her hand to the right, indicating that people around here could help me as well. I have rescued many people and I would risk my life for them over and over again, never have I thought about myself. I may not even be able to save myself, that’s not what I’ve been taught. I’m surprised that I open my heart for this girl I don’t even know. She is silent for a while, gazing at me with her wide brown eyes. “I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name last night”, I ask her politely. “Sarah”, she answers while stirring her coffee. “You’ll be okay”, she says. “You’ll have to get out more often, get to know the place and the people. I would love to accompany you”, and with saying that she lifts her coffee and sips from it. “Starting from today”.
Brendy Batenburg