The Winter Wind

Don't leave us behind!

We were very young when they entered our home...

They came with knives, swords, a vicious laughter...

The first cries were of my mother, my aunt's cries followed...

"Run Tanya! Run!" there was no sound thereafter...

The Winter Wind and snow tore into my 12 year old body...

I knew there was nothing to go back to...

My father's enemities had caught up to us...

They ran after me at speed. "strip the her naked!"

Their screams preluded the sound of their footsteps...

A hand held fast my shoulder, there was no escape until...

An orphaned beggar boy I'd give bread everyday, came running down the hill...

"Didi ! Didi!" he screamed as fist sized rocks tore into my captor's nose...

Further shots to the head and we fled...

The commotion woke up the hills and my family's murderers dispersed...

I had no family left...

The beggar boy led me down the steeping hills through and through the ravine....

"Don't worry Didi, we'll get them" my little brother exclaimed, as he wiped my tears clean.