The next morning. The sun rises over the Yada mountains. Musa sits on the veranda. Said and Hussein beside him. Zakia plays in the courtyard. The sound of her laughter drifts over.
Said holds a cup of tea and says, "Musa, yesterday you said you grew up to be a two-faced person. What happened after that? Did anything happen to Robert and Elizabeth?"
Musa gazes toward the sky. Silent for a long time. The fire in his eyes today is different—as if it's burning, but not blazing. Only smoke rises.
Hussein says, "Commander, if you would tell us..."
Musa takes a deep breath and begins—
Geneva, Switzerland
March 15, 2008 – That Morning
It was March 15, 2008. The beginning of spring. In Geneva, it was still a bit cold, but the sun was out. I woke up from sleep and looked out the window. Snow still on the mountain peaks.
Robert and Elizabeth were downstairs in the living room then. I could hear them laughing. I went down.
Elizabeth saw me and smiled. "Musa, you're up early? It's a holiday today."
I said, "Your voices wouldn't let me sleep."
Robert was reading the paper. Without looking up, he said, "We're going to Paris today. We'll be back by evening. Will you stay home?"
I said, "I have research to do. Anyway, go ahead."
Elizabeth got up. She placed her hand on my cheek. "You'll eat properly, won't you? I've left food in the fridge."
I smiled. "Mom, I've grown up."
She laughed. "Even if you've grown up, you're still small to me."
After breakfast, they got ready. Robert picked up the car keys. Elizabeth gathered her handbag. I walked them to the door.
Robert put his hand on my shoulder and said, "Tonight when I return, I'll have some news for you."
I said, "What news?"
He smiled. "I'll tell you when I get back. Let's go now."
Elizabeth hugged me and said, "God be with you, my son. Be careful."
I said, "God be with you. Come back soon."
They got in the car. They waved from the window. I waved back. The car drove out through the gate. That day I didn't know it would be the last time.
Geneva, Switzerland
March 15, 2008 – That Night
Eight o'clock at night. I'm working in the laboratory. Suddenly the phone rang. An unknown number.
A voice from the other end said, "Mr. Musa? I'm calling from Geneva Central Hospital. Your parents... Mr. and Mrs. Robert... have been injured in a road accident. Please come immediately."
I couldn't say anything with the phone in my hand. I just ran. I got to the hospital by car. I ran inside. A doctor came and stood before me. I understood just by looking at his face.
He said, "We did everything we could. But we couldn't save them. The injuries were very severe. I'm sorry."
I sat down on the floor. I couldn't say anything. No tears came from my eyes. I just sat there.
Then I saw their bodies. Elizabeth lay there. It seemed like she was sleeping. That peace on her face. Robert's eyes closed. Standing beside them, I thought—the ones who taught me to love are gone today.
I sat there all night. In the hospital corridor. No one said anything. Just silence.
Geneva, Switzerland
March 16, 2008 – That Morning
Dawn came. I was still in the hospital. Dr. Meyer came and sat beside me. He didn't say anything. Just placed his hand on my shoulder.
Later I learned—their car had collided with a truck. The truck driver fled. The police said it was an accident.
But I knew. A voice inside me said it wasn't an accident.
That day I went home and entered their room. I opened Elizabeth's wardrobe. The scent of her sari. Robert's last written words on his table. Everything seemed to float before my eyes.
At night I sat by the window and looked toward the sky. I whispered, "Robert, Elizabeth, I know this isn't an accident. I will find out. I swear, I won't let your killer go."
That night the fire inside me ignited. A fire that still burns.
Musa stopped. The sun has tilted toward the west. Evening has come.
Said wipes his eyes and says, "After that? Did you find the killer?"
Musa says, "That's another day's story. Today I only told of this day. March 15, 2008. The day my world stopped."
Hussein says, "Do you ever forget about that day?"
Musa looks out the window and says, "You can't forget, Hussein. Some days leave scars in the mind. You can't erase them even if you want to."
Zakia runs over. She says, "Uncle! Uncle! The sun is setting. Look!"
Musa lifts the little girl in his arms. She's laughing. In that laughter, Musa still finds Elizabeth's affection, Robert's love.
He says, "Yes Zakia, the sun is setting. But it will rise again tomorrow. Just like I'm alive. They're gone, but I'm here. I live with their love."
Said and Hussein understood—this man's story will take a long time to end.
Evening has descended on the Yada mountains. Musa stands. That fire in his eyes. It's burning. Never extinguished.
But today this fire is only memory. Only the memory of March 15, 2008.