Dear Selam,
I listened to your story on this video and I share your feelings. When death suddenly snatches the person that was your comrade, your husband and your child’s father, is unbelievable, unfair, scary, maddening and paralyzing. Shall I say I am sorry you had to go through this? I know people told you and will keep telling you “it happened as a price for independence. It’s God’s willing” and more. However, you – and many Eritrean women like you – know that it is not that simple and sadness becomes your companion. That day at the hospital of Arareb you felt that your life was an extinguished life. I know you wonder how to keep honoring him, how to stop crying and if you do, you do it in hiding from your son Million.
Selam, you are yourself an Eritrean Veteran that has so many war’s bloody images in your mind. You hold in your heart the grief of an Eritrean widow of war and this has no end, has no limit. As a sister, an Eritrean widow of war myself, I know that the path to survival, the need for wisdom and the sadness becomes a linear trail.
I am so proud of you and your son. I hope this short note will make you and your son Million smile. Our Martyrs, including Mikael Melles, are smiling down at you today, because you kept going to bestow an Independent Eritrea upon your people. You will never be the same and you are not supposed to, after losing such love and such husband. I am sure you found – in the midst of this pain – some elements of growth that made you discover more about your strength. You are an example of strength for us – the rest of Eritrean women-who wonder how to keep going. I am grateful for this Independence day you offered to me and my kids.
With love to you and Million.
Kiki Tzeggai
Thank you Assena for bringing these real heros who paid dearly for the liberation of Eritrea. I am really touched by this sad story twice.
Glory to our martyrs.
Kiki Tzeggai May 24, 2018
Dear Selam,
I listened to your story on this video and I share your feelings. When death suddenly snatches the person that was your comrade, your husband and your child’s father, is unbelievable, unfair, scary, maddening and paralyzing. Shall I say I am sorry you had to go through this? I know people told you and will keep telling you “it happened as a price for independence. It’s God’s willing” and more. However, you – and many Eritrean women like you – know that it is not that simple and sadness becomes your companion. That day at the hospital of Arareb you felt that your life was an extinguished life. I know you wonder how to keep honoring him, how to stop crying and if you do, you do it in hiding from your son Million.
Selam, you are yourself an Eritrean Veteran that has so many war’s bloody images in your mind. You hold in your heart the grief of an Eritrean widow of war and this has no end, has no limit. As a sister, an Eritrean widow of war myself, I know that the path to survival, the need for wisdom and the sadness becomes a linear trail.
I am so proud of you and your son. I hope this short note will make you and your son Million smile. Our Martyrs, including Mikael Melles, are smiling down at you today, because you kept going to bestow an Independent Eritrea upon your people. You will never be the same and you are not supposed to, after losing such love and such husband. I am sure you found – in the midst of this pain – some elements of growth that made you discover more about your strength. You are an example of strength for us – the rest of Eritrean women-who wonder how to keep going. I am grateful for this Independence day you offered to me and my kids.
With love to you and Million.
Kiki Tzeggai
Berhe Tensea May 25, 2018
Thank you Assena for bringing these real heros who paid dearly for the liberation of Eritrea. I am really touched by this sad story twice.
Glory to our martyrs.