He only meant to buy something to help him survive over the long weekend, forgive and forget. Processed food, cheep light yogurts and beer. Nothing could be more mundane than that, nothing could've felt more real.
Suddenly, a man steps out from the crowds, in a scene from ancient markets of the Middle-East, shouting "Assalamualaikum, Assalamualaikum my brother." as if recognising Hadrian from his homeland, But Hadrian knew him not, and immediately felt rejection of his dirty appearance and attitude. He knew that man was after only one thing, money.
- "Assalamualaikum yeah?" The man asked as he brought his nose closer to Hadrian's in an unconscious attempt to find a connection that would open their hearts.
- "I have no money with me" Hadrian's disdain showered over that man, as cold as an #icebucket, but that man persisted. Asking for just enough to complete the cost a coffee cup. he opened his hand and showed Hadrian a hand full of copper coins. "I carry not physical money with me man, if I did I'd give you what you ask for, but I don't have cash with me. I'm sorry" A final blow to make that man fly away.
Hadrian makes his way into the market where he pays his pleasure food and drinks with a promise, as always grateful for his ability to cover his needs. He buys and leaves the shop. But right outside was that man again. Hadrian did everything to ignore that man who began to shout once again in an attempt to call his attention "Assalamualaikum, brother. Excuse me brother." His voice sounded so clear and powerful that made it stand out from all the background noise of that busy saturday morning at the market.
Hadrian stopped and looked back where that man was, as he approached in a hurry.
"Assalamualaikum. Please, help me brother" the man begged again with a street wise attitude which kept making Hadrian a little unease. "My mother is sick, she is at home and we have nothing to eat. Please help me, anything will do."
"I have no money man, but I can get you food if you want." Hadrian began to feel something greater was happening. He couldn't leave that man there when he had his hands full of comfort food.
"What would you like?"Hadrian asked.
"I don't know, milk, cheese and bread" The man said hesitating in a first humble attitude.
"Ok, I'll go and get you something" Hadrian said, as he turned going back to the shop.
He began to browse for food, in his mind he thought about healing foods that would nurture those people. "What can I get for them? what would they like?" His mind began to structure a meal, maybe a vegetable soup. He began to take everything that felt right and delicious.
"Do you like chocolate?" Yes, the man nodded with a big smile on his dirty face.
"Right. Let's go. Now, take me to your mother" Hadrian said with confidence and authority. The man open his eyes in shock as he packed the groceries.
"Wait, what, why? no, no, no. There's no need. why?" The man was taken out of balance and comforted.
"If what you're saying is true, you will take me to her right now." The man began to apologise, worried and ashamed.
Hadrian could feel her sadness and weakness. She was lying down on a dirty bed, with flies and a rotten smell of damp cloths and walls, that could kill the strongest gladiator, even more a tired old woman. She looked up and opened her empty eyes, clouded and without hope.
She smiled. Hadrian did too.
We cooked, we cleaned, we talked and we healed, we laughed. The windows opened, the light came in as rushed as the wind. Something happened that #icebucketchallenge day. Hearts opened and we became brothers in a cleared atmosphere. Mother got up from bed and walked to the tiny window that gave her a glimpse to the sky above. Put her wrinkled hands together and gave a stare to the infinite. She didn't cry, all her tears have been dried up, sucked by the desert of her memories.
LoveAlways x 333
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