{{And now she’s left but left with none and left with nothing

no family, no friends

she is crying for help but who’s there to protect her}}

{she cowers in the corner

hiding from who she thought was a friend, a neighbor

her heart pounds

As bullets explode in the air

Echoes of the shots ricochet through her mind}

{{all of a sudden she hears noises:

a crowd of bloodthirsty people talking at the same time

singing, laughing as if the darkness has ended

but for her it has just started

she hears footsteps resonating

she wipes her eyes so she can see straight

suddenly two shadows collide with her eyes

they start shouting and humiliating her

as they raise their machetes

fear grows into her and screams for forgiveness

and they say

“let’s leave her, she is not worth the raise of a machete”}}

{tears falling down from her eyes

she feels worthless and steps into the open

she sees houses burning

people’s bodies scattered everywhere

in shock and paralyzed with fear

she wonders what a home, once filled with beauty, grace and faith, has

turned into

this was 19 years ago but she continues to search for the light

she doesn’t let the past determine her value

she lets the future reveal her dignity}

{{Her story needs to be told and impacts us all

But who could tell it better than she can

her voice speaks through us

and reminds us of the spirit that remains.}}

(Nadia Umwali)