I wake up to the usual Dawn Chorus of gunshots. I try to close my eyes and fall back to sleep but my brother is crying. I roll out of bed and pad over to the sofa to comfort him. I kneel down next to him and start singing his favourite song but halfway through, he interrupts me with:
"What if they come? What if they shoot you? Or mum? Or dad? Or me? Or the baby?"
I have always told the exact truth. But is it always right? After all, it would be a white lie. And white lies are good, necessary lies.
Aren't they?
"Stop worrying! You'll be fine! That's the kind of thing that doesn't happen to us. It never, ever would! I promise" I laugh, stroking his short, fuzzy hair and resuming my song. His huge brown eyes almost immediately close.
But something's wrong. It's too quiet outside.
The door, smashed.
Dada!
Guns.
I hug him tight. Shot in the arm. Carry on protecting Dada.
Unprepared.
Dada's awake.
At first, he doesn't think it's happening. Because I told him it wouldn't.
"Play dead,"
He doesn't.
A piercing scream.
My fault.
YOU ARE READING
Hold Your Fire
AdventureA story of acceptance, truth and bravery. Aliya Onyeneme works for one of the most popular newspapers and is their most trusted and brave journalist. She will do anything to make sure her readers know everything, whatever the consequences. When she...
