Original Draft of my Story... ... ...
Diary
After so long, it finally happens. A war is breaking out. To think that this kind of situation will happen in my lifetime is something that never crosses my mind; not even once. At least not when I’m together with her. At least not when I’m talking with her during the break between our classes. The time when we went out together with a few of our friends. Or when we are working on our small project that was supposed to be done by the end of next summer. At least, not when I’m in love with her.
For someone like me, someone from a family of proletariats, meeting her is a gift. One that I know that I’ll treasure for the rest of my life. One that I know that when I’m old, I’ll be glad that I met this girl. No matter what happens. Yes. No matter what.
But after so long, it finally happens. Even though we claimed that we are neutral regarding the matters between our two neighboring countries. But, our selfish act, acting as the peacemaker representing the United Nations has failed miserably.
For someone like me, who so far only seen a war on the small box of wonder. Whose eyes only seen war through the photons shot into my retinal. A war is just something happening in the movies, or a satellite broadcast from somewhere far, far away from me.
Although the government claimed that the countries military strength rivals that of the first world country. But I’ve seen enough to understand that I am going to lose something important to me. I’ve seen the government spend millions on a facility rarely used. I’ve seen the government spend millions on a nationwide project that promised to be the second
A nationwide evacuation order has been released. Unfortunately it can’t accommodate all 26.64 million people. In the beginning people of all level, regarding of colors, age or wealth get their fair share of military help. But later as the supplies and places run short, those with money are those who get the help. It is aggravating, but, at least I know that she will be safe. At least I know that that smile of hers won’t fade away.
Today, at the Masjid
Even though the countries’ military mainly concentrated in protecting the capital. My house, or rather the apartment I rented, cannot escape the bombardments from the enemy tanks. Haha, I guess, I’m now one of those homeless people I saw near the suburbs a while back. Luckily, the warehouse is still safe from any harm. Luckily indeed. Now, other than being the place where I’m working on our nearly completed project, it also served as my home. There is a bed, more like a sofa, but still a bed. A stove for cooking, running low on gas though. A heater, without it, I’m a goner in this kind of weather. And some equipment needed for our sculpture. If you asked, “how bout food then?” Haha. Dun worry bout food, there are plenty of them. I could have just go to any store nearby and grab some canned food left by the owner of the store. I’m not stealing per say, just desperate times calls for desperate measures right? I actually DO pay them you know! I left some money behind the counter every time I go and get some food.
Some of my friends who stayed behind volunteered to join the army. I wish I have their courage. Then I too can participate and protect the person that I loved. To protect you. But I’m just can’t. I don’t know why but, I just can’t. Even though I’ve bragged so much about how much I loved you. In the end I’m just too weak. For now, the only thing that I can do is to finish this piece of art of ours. For now.
There really isn’t much to do here. Other than to work on our sculpture. I hope you still remember about it. It is almost done. Finally I can almost show it to you. The left wing doesn’t come out much like what we’ve planned but still I’ll work it out somehow. The area around here is pretty quiet lately. Apparently the campaign moves to the east. Thankfully. Now I really can concentrate on the sculpture.
Do you still remember? Last year, you almost miss the party because you overslept. I’ve tried calling you hundreds of time till your phone runs out of battery. If not because of the big ugly alarm clock I gave you, you’ll probably miss the awesome fireworks. I wonder if there are any fireworks at the refugee camp. Here, from time to time, at night I can see the east sky glowing because of the war raging there. Anyway. Merry Christmas.
I’m pretty busy lately. The foods are getting scarce. I guess I have to travel further to get them. The town is pretty much empty lately. Not even a single shadow. It’s pretty ironic seeing the busy town empty. No cars, No traffic jams. No smokes coming out of the cars. No office workers commuting to their offices every morning. Empty. Not even you. Its kind of strange. How I would go to the station every morning. To the exact same spot I would be standing and wait for you. At the exact same time. I can’t get the thought that maybe you’ll come out of my mind. I missed you. A lot.
It started to snow! What a sight! Snow in the middle of an empty town! It is so beautiful that it is almost sad. So sad that I nearly cried. The town, your beloved town, covered in white snow.
Finally it ran out of gas. The stove and the heater no longer working. But don’t worry bout me. I’ve found an alternative method to warm up the warehouse. The cold weather is really getting in the way of our work. It was supposed to be completed this weak but it is too cold for me to work. Sorry! Forgive me will ya?
Something is bothering me. Remember the glow I told you? In the east sky, the campaign in the east? It is getting brighter and brighter. Anyway, I’ve added some personal touch to the sculpture. Don’t worry, I didn’t change the overall design.
There are times when I really feel like throwing away the work aside and start to run to your side. I felt so… empty without you. Who cares bout the sculpture! I wanted to be by your side! I want you!
I’ve heard from a traveler from the east that a lot of people died in the war. Hopefully, Kenneth,
I’m going to the east to get some food. Finally it is almost done. When you return you are going to be surprised! I’ve heard news on the radio that the war is going to be over soon! We can finally see each other.
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MORE DRAFT!!!!
Story 1
This is a story about a couple trying to fulfil a promise the made to each other a year ago; to be able to be together under the sculpture they have been working on for a long time. Unfortunately, when the couple was about to finish the sculpture, a war breaks out. The girl manages to escape from the city because of her family connection but the boy however failed to do so. Being poor and having a weak body, not only he cannot escape, he cannot even be enlisted for military aids. “He is practically useless; blame himself for being so weak! He’ll be dead in a matter of seconds! Go home!” or so they said. And so, the boy returns to the only place left for him. The warehouse he and the girl he made his promise with found during the beginning of the summer before this.
It was totally by a coincidence. It was raining that day, on their way back, while trying to take cover from the rain they stumbled upon this abandoned warehouse. Since then they started to plan their secret project. This was never meant to be for anything, not for their college assignment, not for any competition, not for anyone else but the two of them. Using the money they earn from part time, slowly, both of them buy the necessary material to build it. Back then everyday, every single day from Monday till Sunday, was so much fun. This little project of their own was meant to be done by the end of this summer but the war caught everyone unprepared. As if they are not satisfied by causing the climate of this city changed, now they wanted to level the whole city. It took him quite some time to convince the girl not to stay behind with him. There is no way for him to allow the girl to stay in the city while it is at war. To him nothing is more important than her life. And so, the love bird bid each other farewell with a hope that the promise they made to each other one year ago will be fulfilled.
Everyday he wakes up with the hope of surviving another day so that he can carry out the promise they made. Although working day and night on the sculpture takes a toll on his weak frame, he still continues on. Getting food and water was no easy task either. If he is lucky, he might be able to find some canned food at some abandoned convenience store. Otherwise, starving for one or two days is pretty much a norm. Well, despites all this hardship, he is considered pretty lucky. There are those who died because of stray bullets, or being beaten up by the ruffians in the middle of the streets. Things are going pretty well, till his luck runs out. It happened when he tried to get food from a store near an active war field. He was about to left after gathering the necessities, but that was when everything goes wrong.
Defying her parents’ order, the girl goes back to the city, alone. Trying to be reunited with the person she cares most at this moment. After getting down from the train, the girl ran straight to the one place she knows she will be able to find him. When she reaches there, all she saw in front of her eyes was the warehouse, half blown away, and a completed work. Tears were running down the red cheeks of hers when she heard some footsteps from behind. She then turns around putting on the brightest smile anyone ever seen on her face.
Story 2
No matter how we look at it, there is no way we are going to leave this place; the place where the two of us met each other for the first time few years back. Normally around this hour, you will see the office workers crossing the busy streets to take the train home, the traffic police directing the traffic, birds flying back to their nest with their finds of the day or the ray from the sun, casting long dark shadows over the high rise buildings in this lively town. Together, with the one person I care most, we would stare at the city, admiring its beauty at its best. Today, however, things were a bit different. Things you would normally anticipate from this city are missing; the cars, the people, the atmosphere. Everything that makes this city so lovely is absent. Cause tomorrow the city is going to be a battlefield.
We, together, have decided to be the witness of his town till the end of it. How can we leave the town we love most alone? Especially at a time like this! We have decided to take care of this city, with all our might, so that when everyone returns they will feel just like home and maybe love this city even more.
In the beginning, we were a bit afraid that our feelings towards the city might change after it lost all those that make it shine. But to our relief, not only that it did not change, we actually grew fonder towards this city. Without any ill-mannered people, without any of those fume emitting vehicles, without any of those. The whole town becomes our playground, exclusively for the two of us. As if the town is repaying our love towards her. If this were to last forever then this is our heaven on earth. Together, we cleaned the city, planted some trees and flowers, and removed the graffiti on the walls, little by little, making it a better place. It was so much fun. When we are tired, we would just sit down, near to each other and just stare at the city for hours.
But, deep down, we knew that, this kind of peaceful days would not last forever. We knew that someday the war will finally reach this city. We knew that we might not be able to see this city at its glory again. But we still hope that, one day, the city at its people will be back again. But this time a better city; a city full of trees and flowers the two if us planted. Then during the spring, the flowers will bloom making this, what used to be called concrete town, colourful with aromatic scents all over. Then we will have no regrets. Because what we have done today, will make a better place for others to live in.
posted by no-pantsu @ Monday, August 28, 2006
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