Day 1,021

Ayhem

The boy, 13, went to the market
to buy what he could
for his family. When
he returned, his whole
family — parents, siblings —
had been killed.
Instead of being received
with happy smiles for the
peaches, the zucchini,
he was met by shrouds:
some of them small.
His youngest sister?
Which was his mother?
Which was his father?
Confused, in shock, the boy
looked around. People
had gathered. Were standing
around him, behind him,
their hands on his head,
his back, his shoulders.
Who will eat these fruits
and vegetables now? he
was thinking, and
how is it
that I’m the only one alive?