Soldier/Victim (Leilani Harris x Dreamcatcher164)

[Leilani Harris]

@DreamCatcher164
​

 

[DreamCatcher164]

I'm on the roof of our mud-brick house, hanging our laundry to dry. My hijab and long, flowly clothing sways in the desert wind. Down below, I hear some shouting, and people calling my name. But I ignore it, assuming it's my older brother snapping at me to cook his lunch. Little do I know, he and my grandparents are being forced out of our house, with no warning, by a group of American soldiers. I hum my favorite song as I clothes-pin the garments on a string, my expression aloof, until I see an alley cat staring at me from the next roof over. I smile warmly at her. Salam pishee khanoom! I say, in Dari, meaning. "Hi kitty!" Az ghabl be fekret boodam. Beeyah! "I was thinking of you/preparing for your visit. Here!" I bend over a copper dish laid in the shade, and retrieve a fat, juicy chicken leg. I throw it across the roof. It lands with a single bounce, and the hungry cat catches it mid air, running away somewhere safe to have his little meal.

 

[Leilani Harris]

I watched as my fellow soldiers forced people out of the house. Once they were taken out I walked in, armed. I heard noises above me and motioned for the other soldiers to follow me. I slowly made my way up to the top and saw a girl hanging clothes. All four of us charged our guns and they made the familiar sound I was so used to. Two of our group tried to grab her, but I knew not to trust them with young girls. They showed no mercy to them. "Come with me and you won't be hurt." I said to her in a quiet but strong manner.

 

[DreamCatcher164]

I've gone back to humming to myself as I hang the laundry as your group busts in. When I hear the sound of weapons so close, in such an unexpected place, I visibly shake, like a jolt of electricity shoots down my body, and spin around to see four strange men with their sights set on me. I shout and stumble back, my widening blue eyes like the sky above us, the rest of my face contorted in terror. When the two go to grab me, I extend my arms, palms pointed to their chest, and yell "No! No! PLEASE." In broken English, heavily accented. I freeze like a dear in headlights when you stop them, hearing you speak, I squint my eyes, trying to understand. "Come?" I mumble, my hand clutching my fast beating heart.

 

[Leilani Harris]

I pointed towards the door. "Come..with..us," I said slowly, realizing that she didn't speak English. When she didn't react I slowly pulled her by the wrist over to the door. The rest of the soldiers that accompanied me guarded the back of the girl to make sure she didn't run away. "Is this your family?" I asked her, pointing at the other men we had forced out of the house. I half pushed, half helped her into the vehicle. "You're gonna be okay." I reassured her, even though I was meant to be coldhearted towards the villagers.

 

[DreamCatcher164]

I'm too stunned to do anything but let you guide me away, like a herded sheep, my eyes darting around the house as we exit it. ASTAGHFIRALLAH! I shout, meaning "God have mercy," when I see my brother, Mohammed, and my grandfather in the vehicle. I want to go run to them, but hearing the other soldiers cough and shuffle about, I'm whipped back into reality. "Family?" I say, looking at the ground. "Family...Oh! Yes!" I nod fervently. "They are family!" I look you straight in the eyes, as if begging to be reunited with them. When you put me in the vehicle with them, my cheeks go from colorless - like a ghost - to bright red with relief. The three of us collapse in each others arms, Grandpa crying, myself too shocked to function, Mohammed glaring in the direction of your group with the most furious, dirty look imaginable.

 

[Leilani Harris]

I watched as the girl hugged her family. I looked away, remembering my family. They were safe, but I hadn't seen them in years. I shook the thought off and slipped into the vehicle. I started the engine and started driving towards the campsite. The army was clearing out the village for some unknown reason. It was a bumpy ride there and I looked back occasionally to see what was going on. "You okay back there?" I called to the people in the back of the truck. My tone was gruff, but I didn't have a choice to be mean or nice to the villagers.

 

[DreamCatcher164]

Everyone turns their head towards you but me. Some are swallowed by sorrow, others are fuming to a boiling point. Three rows of distraught faces crowd the back of the car. No one answers you. Meanwhile, I'm gazing out the window, my head in the clouds, my head against the hard glass. I've crossed my arms over my chest leaned back in my seat. I watch as we pass a neighboring village, and get further and further away from my usual surroundings, until I'm not very sure where we are anymore. I take a long, deep breath and turn my attention to the bottom of the seat in front of me, staring at it blankly, but with a bit more thought than before; like I'm beginning to process everything and plan my next move.