In his old age, Yemi had grown to enjoy the peace that the night had to offer. He had never taken the time over the course of his life to simply sit and marvel at god’s creations. Lately, he had begun to do so more frequently. There was something mystical about the Rwandan landscape that Yemi believed could only truly be felt once the stars were out. If people were to sit outside and look at them each night, they would live a lot differently. It was there, outside his small home, that Yemi sat, still. He did not know how much longer he had to enjoy this simple pleasure.
He was very well aware what was happening to his once beautiful country. Hundreds of thousands of men had become savages overnight, killing their friends and neighbours. These machete-wielding animals were hell bent on eliminating all of Rwanda’s Tutsis. Yemi could not understand how these men could be so cruel; he had grown to be ashamed of his heritage, ashamed to be Hutu. For the moment though, all was quiet. As he looked up at the stars that filled the sky, Yemi wondered what had become of his nation and his people. “This is not Rwanda”, he thought to himself, not altogether sure anymore.
Soon after, he began to notice a distinct smell fill his nostrils. He instantly knew that his peace had come to an end. Not too far off in the distance, blistering flames had engulfed a nearby house. The tranquil serenity of the night had been drowned out by the deathly screams resonating from what he was sure were his neighbours.” They have finally come” he thought to himself, “the monsters are here”
He made his way towards his home, knowing they would soon come for him. Within minutes Yemi heard a knock at the door. A feeling of horror took over his body. He had never felt so scared in his life. He slowly approached the door with what strength still remained in his legs, which were weakened by worry and fear. As he opened it, he was surprised by what was on the other side. A young woman stood there, a look of sheer horror on her face.
“Sir, can you please help me, I have nowhere else to run.” explained the woman, wiping her teary eyes with her blood-soaked clothing. “My husband told me I would be safe here.”
Yemi soon realized who this woman was. He had seen her many times at church with her husband and young daughter. Though he wanted to ask what had happened to her family, he already knew. The woman was barely recognizable in her current state. Her body was shaking uncontrollably and her face was badly bruised. Yemi knew what had to be done.
“Come in, quick, I will hide you.” he said as he brought the frightened woman to a seldom used room in the back of the house. “You will be well hidden here, but you must not make a sound.” The woman looked up, outstretched her trembling, bloody arm and grabbed onto him. As their eyes crossed paths, a wave of bravery rushed over Yemi; unlike any other he had ever felt before. “I must go now” he said, entranced by the woman’s beautiful hazel eyes. With that he left the room, closing the door behind him.
As Yemi stepped outside his house, he noticed three large figures walking in his direction. He thought of running, but he knew they would catch up to him. He decided he would stand his ground as the threesome approached.
They were very imposing men, with large arms and tree trunk legs. Their shirts were tattered and bloody, almost as bloody as the machetes they grasped in their hands. One man, most likely the leader, yelled out.
“Where is she? I know she is here.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” answered Yemi. “I live here alone”. The man stared at him for a second, his fists clenched in anger. Yemi braced himself for what was to come next. In matter of seconds, he was on the ground, clutching his stomach in pain. The man stood over him, pounding him without mercy.
“Where is she?” he screamed between blows. Though he was in tremendous pain, Yemi felt stronger with every punch thrown. He knew in his heart that he would never tell these savages the truth, no matter how hard they hit him.
“I don’t know what you are talking about”. With that the man stood up, his fists covered in blood. Though he tried to stand, Yemi knew it was impossible. His body screamed in pain with every movement he tried to make. The man stared at him, his eyes burning with rage.
Just tell me where she is and you will live, old man.” said the animal, machete now in hand. “You are one of us; you are Hutu. You have to help us kill these cockroaches.”
The thought of being even remotely similar to these barbaric militiamen infuriated the broken down old man. He was no longer listening to anything the man had to say. He simply stared up at the stars, as he had earlier that night. They looked so gentile and beautiful. As long as they kept shining over Rwanda, he knew there was still hope for redemption. Even in the darkest of times, they still shine. As the man swung his weapon toward him, Yemi felt comfort in the fact that he would soon join the stars.
He was very well aware what was happening to his once beautiful country. Hundreds of thousands of men had become savages overnight, killing their friends and neighbours. These machete-wielding animals were hell bent on eliminating all of Rwanda’s Tutsis. Yemi could not understand how these men could be so cruel; he had grown to be ashamed of his heritage, ashamed to be Hutu. For the moment though, all was quiet. As he looked up at the stars that filled the sky, Yemi wondered what had become of his nation and his people. “This is not Rwanda”, he thought to himself, not altogether sure anymore.
Soon after, he began to notice a distinct smell fill his nostrils. He instantly knew that his peace had come to an end. Not too far off in the distance, blistering flames had engulfed a nearby house. The tranquil serenity of the night had been drowned out by the deathly screams resonating from what he was sure were his neighbours.” They have finally come” he thought to himself, “the monsters are here”
He made his way towards his home, knowing they would soon come for him. Within minutes Yemi heard a knock at the door. A feeling of horror took over his body. He had never felt so scared in his life. He slowly approached the door with what strength still remained in his legs, which were weakened by worry and fear. As he opened it, he was surprised by what was on the other side. A young woman stood there, a look of sheer horror on her face.
“Sir, can you please help me, I have nowhere else to run.” explained the woman, wiping her teary eyes with her blood-soaked clothing. “My husband told me I would be safe here.”
Yemi soon realized who this woman was. He had seen her many times at church with her husband and young daughter. Though he wanted to ask what had happened to her family, he already knew. The woman was barely recognizable in her current state. Her body was shaking uncontrollably and her face was badly bruised. Yemi knew what had to be done.
“Come in, quick, I will hide you.” he said as he brought the frightened woman to a seldom used room in the back of the house. “You will be well hidden here, but you must not make a sound.” The woman looked up, outstretched her trembling, bloody arm and grabbed onto him. As their eyes crossed paths, a wave of bravery rushed over Yemi; unlike any other he had ever felt before. “I must go now” he said, entranced by the woman’s beautiful hazel eyes. With that he left the room, closing the door behind him.
As Yemi stepped outside his house, he noticed three large figures walking in his direction. He thought of running, but he knew they would catch up to him. He decided he would stand his ground as the threesome approached.
They were very imposing men, with large arms and tree trunk legs. Their shirts were tattered and bloody, almost as bloody as the machetes they grasped in their hands. One man, most likely the leader, yelled out.
“Where is she? I know she is here.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” answered Yemi. “I live here alone”. The man stared at him for a second, his fists clenched in anger. Yemi braced himself for what was to come next. In matter of seconds, he was on the ground, clutching his stomach in pain. The man stood over him, pounding him without mercy.
“Where is she?” he screamed between blows. Though he was in tremendous pain, Yemi felt stronger with every punch thrown. He knew in his heart that he would never tell these savages the truth, no matter how hard they hit him.
“I don’t know what you are talking about”. With that the man stood up, his fists covered in blood. Though he tried to stand, Yemi knew it was impossible. His body screamed in pain with every movement he tried to make. The man stared at him, his eyes burning with rage.
Just tell me where she is and you will live, old man.” said the animal, machete now in hand. “You are one of us; you are Hutu. You have to help us kill these cockroaches.”
The thought of being even remotely similar to these barbaric militiamen infuriated the broken down old man. He was no longer listening to anything the man had to say. He simply stared up at the stars, as he had earlier that night. They looked so gentile and beautiful. As long as they kept shining over Rwanda, he knew there was still hope for redemption. Even in the darkest of times, they still shine. As the man swung his weapon toward him, Yemi felt comfort in the fact that he would soon join the stars.
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