MY SOUL SHOUTS...
author: Marta Gonzales
This is Isobel Bowdery, aged 22, a South African graduate, who survived the Bataclan Concert Hall massacre. She shared in Facebook her horrifying experience...:((
“you never think it
will happen to you. It was just a friday night at a rock show. the atmosphere
was so happy and everyone was dancing and smiling. and then when the men came
through the front entrance and began the shooting, we naiively believed it was
all part of the show. It wasn't just a terrorist attack, it was a massacre.
Dozens of people were shot right infront of me. Pools of blood filled the
floor. Cries of grown men who held their girlfriends dead bodies pierced the small music venue. Futures demolished,
families heartbroken. in an instant. Shocked and alone, I pretended to be dead
for over an hour, lying among people who could see their loved ones
motionless.. Holding my breath, trying to not move, not cry - not giving those
men the fear they longed to see. I was incredibly lucky to survive. But so many
didn't. The people who had been there for the exact same reasons as I - to have
a fun friday night were innocent. This world is cruel. And acts like this are
suppose to highlight the depravity of humans and the images of those men
circuling us like vultures will haunt me for the rest of my life. The way they
meticoulsy aimed at shot people around the standing area i was in the centre of
without any consideration for human life. It didn't feel real. i expected any
moment for someone to say it was just a nightmare. But being a survivor of this
horror lets me able to shed light on the heroes. To the man who reassured me
and put his life on line to try and cover my brain whilst i whimpered, to the
couple whose last words of love kept me believing the good in the world, to the
police who succeded in rescuing hundreds of people, to the complete strangers
who picked me up from the road and consoled me during the 45 minutes I truly
believed the boy i loved was dead, to the injured man who i had mistaken for him
and then on my recognition that he was not Amaury, held me and told me
everything was going to be fine despite being all alone and scared himself, to
the woman who opened her doors to the survivors, to the friend who offered me
shelter and went out to buy new clothes so i wouldnt have to wear this blood
stained top, to all of you who have sent caring messages of support - you make
me believe this world has the potential to be better. to never let this happen
again. but most of this is to the 80 people who were murdered inside that
venue, who weren't as lucky, who didnt get to wake up today and to all the pain
that their friends and families are going through. I am so sorry. There's
nothing that will fix the pain. I feel priviledged to be there for their last
breaths. And truly beliving that I would join them, I promise that their last
thoughts were not on the animals who caused all this. It was thinking of the
people they loved. As i lay down in the blood of strangers and waiting for my
bullet to end my mere 22 years, I envisioned every face that I have ever loved
and whispered I love you. over and over again. reflecting on the highlights of
my life. Wishing that those i love knew just how much, wishing that they knew
that no matter what happened to me, to keep belieivng in the good in people. to
not let those men win. Last night, the lives of many were forever changed and
it is up to us to be better people. to live lives that the innocent victims of
this tragedy dreamt about but sadly will now never be able to fulfil. RIP
angels. You will never be forgotten.”
MY EYES CRY...
author: Linda Mill
author: Eleni Koutsouridou
author: Grego Solsol
author: Benjamin Regnier
author: Stephane Moussin
Anonymous
MY HEART ACHES...
I am sure more than ever that we must keep on reading to our children fairy tales in which Good is stronger than Evil. Because they can be that inspiring, encouraging and motivating force that will help them make this world of ours a really good place for living with dignity and joy, for sharing love, for creating beauty...
... I suppose Tomorrow I will feel angry and courageous. But Today... Today I am upset and sad...
