A Long Way Gone

by Ishmael Beah

Since we intended to return the next day, we didn’t say goodbye or tell anyone where we were going. We didn’t know that we were leaving home, never to return.

I got up from the floor, soaked a white towel with a glass of water, and tied it around my head. I was afraid to fall asleep, but staying awake also brought back painful memories. Memories I sometimes wish I could wash away, even though I am aware that they are an important part of what my life is; who I am now.

These days I live in three worlds: my dreams, and the experiences of my new life, which trigger memories from the past.

This was one of the consequences of the civil war. People stopped trusting each other, and every stranger became an enemy.

“How many more times do we have to come to terms with death before we find safety?” he asked.