DIPLOMATICALLY INCORRECT presents Part 2 of Naida’s story, “A Place to Call Home.” Naida continues her contribution to the Bosnian & Herzegovinian diaspora as well as a universal diaspora with her message of hope, healing, and life’s opportunities. This will be presented in installments, and we welcome your further comments. ---Susan Sacirbey “LET WHAT YOU LOVE BE WHAT YOU DO” One evening my Mother woke up to a golden sky with a thousand shades of grey. To her surprise, she found Mostar dead silent. Not a soul to be heard and not a song to be sung. Whilst gazing upon what seemed to be forever, she thought a silent thought that the Day of Judgment had come. Meanwhile, my Father heard that the hospital of his wife was to be pelted within limited time. Without much thinking, he drove to Mostar in the hopes of saving his wife and unborn child from a tragic death. On his way he met no man, no car, nothing. All he faced were the Aggressors’ multiple tanks and heavy gear set on the mountains ready to take the lives and spill the blood of the innocent. My Father turned pale as he faced his sheer enemy face to face, yet he kept going. He was lucky. They spared him his life. Once in Mostar, he grabbed my Mother by her arm and made for a quick escape to Split. Later, it was known that the gynecological section was hit first where my Mother’s doctor got killed along with several unborn girls and boys. In Split, she finally gave birth to a baby girl. Yet to her great despair, her child was to be left at hospital due to premature birth. During my ten-day stay at hospital, whilst isolated in a little cube box, my Mother rang everyday to care for me. On the last day of my visit, the doctor announced that I may come home and for my Mother not to worry as I was a “fighter.” Yet my life at home, a home which I knew nothing of and was never to know, was to face a swift end. “Go down to the basement fast, bring the children with you. That shall keep you safe for now,” the words of my Father as the Aggressors plan to hit a populated area in Herzegovina. That night, my Mother says, shall forever be remembered as the night of agony. A bloody current ran through her entire being as she feared for the lives of her children. Kept in a cold and molded basement with darkness and rats as her only friends, the evil thoughts of how this was the end of her ruled her mind. All night long my Mother stood wide awake, touched by every sound of the wind and the sound of the leaves dancing with the breeze, thinking “first they will rape me. Then they will kill my children before my very eyes. Then they will burn out my flame. They will spare us no mercy.” The night had remained dark with no fire in sight, yet as she greeted the sun with bloodshot eyes, my Mother was a forever changed woman. “HISTORY ADMIRES THE WISE, BUT ELEVATES THE BRAVE” As war began to progress into severe starvation and ethnic cleansing, my parents were given an ultimatum from the Aggressors saying either ‘you choose life for yourself or we choose death for you’. My parents chose life. Just as she was to wash the sea of dishes, my Mother was called to pack for her life. Forced to flee on her own as her husband was positioned to fight, she took her children in her arms and her suitcase of memories and kissed her husband farewell as she headed for unknown grounds. After months of searching for something, for someone, for anyone to lend a helping hand, my Mother admitted her application for her permit to Sweden. She explains how that day was so long. Despite having pneumonia, she stood in line for hours and hours. Heavy raindrops fell to the ground as did grenades in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the message of death, yet I was safe. I was so blessed. My four and a half year old brother stood by me, protected me and secured me from the rain as my Mother awaited the ticket to an alleged safe haven. ---To be cont’d. Facebook: Become a Fan at “DIPLOMATICALLY INCORRECT” & “BOSNIA TV”” Follow on TWITTER @DiplomaticallyX More Film & Blog Reports: Part I – “A Place To Call Home,” By Naida Sekic: diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/more-from-naida-sekic-a-member-of-the-bosnian-herzegovinian-diaspora-from-susan-sacirbey/42329 Diplomatically Incorrect Channels: diplomaticallyincorrect.org/c/diplomatically-incorrect Bosnia Channels: diplomaticallyincorrect.org/c/bosnia