It was going to be an eventful day for Dr. Ryan Williams. This was his thought while sitting in the military vehicle making its way through the ruined roads of Eldia. The country which was once known for its fascinating arts forms and breathtaking culture, now unrecognisable because of the ongoing war. Dr. Ryan Williams, a pediatrician was requested to examine the soon to be war refugee children.
When I arrived at the camp, it seemed like all colours from my life were stripped away. The building barely looking stable to call a safe camp, children crying while hugging the staff. It took me a good time to calm the children down and let alone do their physical examination. One thing was clear to me that these children were mentally hurt beyond care than they were physically. In my 15 years of experience had I done a job more soul saddening than this. I knew I had to leave the camp by evening, so I requested my secretary to bring some goodies for the children as a gift.
Gather around kiddos!! I said shouting while clapping my hands, “if you kids remember, next month it’s Christmas. So, what I want you to do is-have this slip and write what you want as a gift so that I can pass your slips to Santa on my way back.”
The children took interest in writing down their wishes with their tiny hands. At last I collected all the slips, I wanted to wait until my secretary arrive with the goodies but unfortunately I got a duty call and had to leave.
I sat in the same military vehicle that drove me here, for my return. During the journey, my attention went on the wish slips and I opened them to see what those little pumpkins desired. ‘Bread, shoes, my brother, my mom, my parents, safe house, my dog, water bottle etc. The wishes went so on and I could see my vision getting blurred because of the tears forming in my eyes. Feeling sad for those poor souls and feeling even more hopeless that I couldn’t do anything about it.
The wishes of those kids were enough to make a 45 year old grown man sob his way back home. Dr. Ryan made sure those children got proper help, but himself also realised that nothing in this world can be so crueler, uglier or heart wrenching than a war where lives of innocent people are gambled for conflicts of gut rotten political leaders.
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