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You lay across the ground as your eyes make their way to his dead glare. As you make an attempt to move, he shoves you down with the butt of his rifle, making you collapse to the ground.
“What is it now, Egypt?” His voice felt sharp towards your face as he spoke, his eyes trailing over your bleeding head. “ You wanted to get back Sinai so everyone could praise you again - stop trying—stop it completely!” he shouted at you, almost in a mocking way, "Sinai is mine. Accept it you look embarrassing- or keep on fighting me, what good will do to you?!, you see Syria? he lost his sight because of me". You didn't say anything, the only thing you could hear and feel was the hatred in his voice towards you.
He stared at your state, he then held your wing, gripping the end of your wing hard , your body quivered, trying to resist and fight back but it was inevitable .One by one, he proceeded to tear off the array of feathers on your back, making sure that it was fully ripped, his eyes never leaving yours out of vain, his eyes traced your body movements, analyzing them. As if he wanted more, seeing you on the ground wasn't enough. He wanted to make sure everyone knew how threatening he was.
You didn't look at him. You had wished deeply that he was never even near you.
But Egypt, isn't that what you wanted to be for everyone?, someone they could look up to?.
Or it doesn't matter now you are tasting your own raw flesh and blood?.
It trickles down from your neck rapidly. The only thing you can see is his arm violently gripping your neck, he proceeds to open an old wound that he had already given you prior to Suez , it burns as he does it. He can sense what you're feeling. He then spits on his hand and slowly rubs it across your neck. Your eyes slowly follows his movements as he does it.
He throws you across the hard ground that consists of sand and various components, it was a vivid memory, one could say a fragmented memory. Until every inch of your skin was soaked in dark red. Except for your face. He wanted to see your face, for some odd reason you couldn't remember - or you didn't want to. You tremble violently as he approaches you again. You slowly roll over to the side feeling helpless as you stare at your torn wing. Soaked in blood.
Over and over would he degrade you, and you wished that was the only thing he did to you. But every time you tried to remember it. Your head went blank and you completely panicked at the sight of the man at all. Denying your loss was one thing, faking a victory was another. It had been a month after the war had finally simmered. With nothing to do as the man of influence in the region itself, it seemed everyone was embarrassed and felt it was awkward to share borders with you. Maybe Palestine could look up to you again, no.
"What you did was truly brave, but look at you now!" her hand swayed up and down at your various wounds, nonetheless she had a faint smile. She said: " But yet I will support you until my last drop of blood". You glared at her and nodded and contemplated how such a woman could be naïve to support you even when you lie relentlessly and carelessly infront of everyone.
Syria struggles to see what is infront of him, as he now wears a double- eyed dressing, you assume Israel must've done such horrors to him. He shouts at you even more desperately now, but seems angered by your mere presence.
"You lied to me Egypt. Where was the help that you promised me? How many promises will you make until you can't anymore?!, you disgrace of your own people" His voice laced with truth, yet you ignored it. It was easier to ignore his words then consider it.
"I am not a liar" You speak, as it hurts to swallow. "I lost because of various reasons" you speak as you try to leave. But now everyone seems to want to speak you now. It irritates you. You get stuck in hours of unavoidable conversations and banter. It eats you up, the immense guilt of your terrible performance in the war. No one would notice, or they would. No one avoids you in this region. You are the one who
fights& 'defends' Palestine.
You stare at the newspaper then you crumple it violently as you go rampant and run out of your office. All they ever wanted was to fight. You wanted to rest. But for them rest wasn't provided until death. You wanted to truly fight but everytime you did- or if you even could. It was tiring but you were the only one that could fit the role. The only who everyone could love and hate at the same time.
The war starts once again. And it seems that you are destined to win what was yours. But it would be a true shame if you didn't. Egypt.
You aim the gun that it attached to your bayonet. Ever so precisely at him. You arm shakes as you release the trigger. You can't believe it
For once in a very long time - It is a success.
For some reason you still feel empty. You glare at him, & proceed spit on the ground. As he once did. But you know this temporary feeling will leave you. As you are incapable of feeling pride, even if you wanted to, there is nothing you could find to be proud of. The sound of your heart beats slowly in your head. It gets louder as you realize.
You are the one on the ground.
the sharp tip of the end of the bayonet goes through you, he then pulls it out, slowly.
Barely breathing, and across the ground. Once again hurt & on the ground. No one saved you. Though everyone helped you it still felt as if you were alone. You found yourself barely even able to speak, as your rubbed your stomach to reveal the copious amounts of blood that flowed from your abdomen. Down,down,down as the blood dripped, some drops dried and stained your uniform dark red, almost giving it a black-ish tone.
No wins in the end truly. Egypt - you thought as you clenched your abdomen hardly almost giving an imprint with your sharp nails. He doesn't let you leave, he instead forcefully pulls you back harshly by the hem of your blouse, and proceeds once again to shove your face hardly against the consistency of rocks and grains. You heard a faint sound of something breaking - but why would it matter, you are already shattered into a thousand pieces from before.
"Don't stare at me like that". He says, with no hint of remorse in his voice, he infact seemed to not care at all. The quietness between the two of you got louder. He wanted to break it.
He aimed to shoot at you.
Blood immediately dripped down on your face, like it was a waterfall. You lay on the ground somewhat defeated as you can only see tinge spots of red in your eyes. Tears mixed in with it as you stand up to move. He shot you again.
You now lay there, unable to even speak, hearing was a sacred source. The shot of the bullet rang in your head, as Libya spoke.
You just lay there as he makes sure that the wrapping of the gauze is tight enough, you hear the unwrapping of the bandages, and you feel irritated at his worry. He shouts annoyed pointing his finger at your chest.
"Why accept my help if your gonna act selfish and kick everyone out of the efforts they had committed?!" he speaks as you trace his bothered expression.
"I didn't need your help, I excluded you for a reason!". You say, with a hint of irritation.
You grab the bandages from him forcefully as you smoke a cigar, tending to your wounds. Hollowness fills you up as you wrap the gauze tightly around your abdomen, and attempt to wrap it around your half-torn wings, the sound of your feathers moving brush against the gauze, making an unnoticeable sound. He then gets up to leave. And doesn't return. You notice it. Unphased you continue to wrap your bandages, making sure every inch of your skin that was torn is tended to, but someone keeps on knocking loudly on your door.
You limp over to open it. And it is America. You want to close the door but being the 'generous' man you are you allow him to come in.
" So now you come after another war for what exactly?... I really want to know what is in that head of yours" You shout annoyed.
" Egypt. Sit down, I wanted to help actually". He responds, taking off his sunglasses that shined in the bright light of the sun. "You see, I don't like how everyone in this region seems to fight, and your the biggest influence. If you could mind?" He asks, as if he wants you to finish what he wanted to say.
"Mind what?, you want me to lessen my influence of the masses?" looking at him judgmentally, tracing his hand movements and gesture towards you, as if he wanted to call you lesser than a human.
He notices it your expression, and his nice façade seemed to wear off. wasn't gonna leave just yet.
" I'll make a good deal with you. I know how much you need money and aid". He says, you look off to the side at that. You felt desperate.
"Fine, not now. Soon" You speak with secretiveness, you felt your body tense up. Sweat somewhat started to fade in. Nonetheless, you shake hands with him, with his hand seemingly having a hard grip on yours - as if it meant to symbolize something deeper. You ignored it and closed the door behind the man.
You knew it. Don't act like you didn't know what you were doing. And stop trying to distract others from the fact that you really aren't who you paint yourself to be. Egypt. Don't lie to me, be truthful even if it hurts you the most, sure you can be the greatest. But never all the time. It is fine to be flawed but you are a man of lies. Built off of your own ego. But why would it bother anyone besides- everyone seems useless to you and "stuck in time".