The Lebanese Sunset (Non-*BDL Short Story)

Kovalchuk · 23-04-2009

The characters somewhat coincide with the characters from my epic work "The Downfall and Rebirth". I know these are not real paragraphs, I did whatever I did for poetic effect. Also, I have never been to Lebanon or known a war correspondent. This is mainly a story about homesickness, so I am going into areas I have not experienced, such as being away from family for years in a war zone. Please enjoy.

The Lebanese Sunset

I sat down in the restaurant in downtown Beirut. I had ordered a local dish and I looked forward to eating it. As I looked out the large window on one wall of the restaurant and watched the sun begin to set in the distance, smelling the aromas of Lebanese food around me, I reflected.

It seemed like three lifetimes since I had been back home. In reality it had only been three years since CNN sent me to be a war correspondent in Lebanon. When I was first given the job, I did not know what to expect. I had been to Iraq, but only for a few months. I assumed it would be similar.

I read on my computer and hear on the news that the economy is not doing well at home.

Home...

I am a father of a young girl, Melissa. I am also the father of an even younger girl, Rachel, whom I have never held, although I have seen pictures of her. My wife, Ingrid, says they look just like me.

I have not spoken to Ingrid for a while. Every time I do, I feel my stomach sinking- the brownish-green, oozing rot of guilt. I fear she is becoming more dependent on alcohol.

Or, as I also fear, she may be sleeping with other men. Or abusing our children.

She has emailed me a few times lately, but I do not want to read them. I am too scared as to what she may say. I love her, but I feel as if we are drifting apart.

I thought of my future as I checked the wall clock. It had been thirty minutes since I had ordered my food. I saw it coming then.

I ate, watching the sun go down in the desert

In Lebanon

Laram · 26-04-2009

Thats Quite Short, But Its Good... I Wonder What The Lebanese Sunset Would Look Like...?

23-04-2009	#1 (permalink)
Kovalchuk Resident Hockey Nut Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Philips Arena Age: 16 Posts: 1,528 Threads: 242 Gallery Uploads: 11 Wiki Edits: 4 Blog Entries: 2 Reputation: 55	*The Lebanese Sunset (Non-BDL Short Story)** The characters somewhat coincide with the characters from my epic work "The Downfall and Rebirth". I know these are not real paragraphs, I did whatever I did for poetic effect. Also, I have never been to Lebanon or known a war correspondent. This is mainly a story about homesickness, so I am going into areas I have not experienced, such as being away from family for years in a war zone. Please enjoy. The Lebanese Sunset I sat down in the restaurant in downtown Beirut. I had ordered a local dish and I looked forward to eating it. As I looked out the large window on one wall of the restaurant and watched the sun begin to set in the distance, smelling the aromas of Lebanese food around me, I reflected. It seemed like three lifetimes since I had been back home. In reality it had only been three years since CNN sent me to be a war correspondent in Lebanon. When I was first given the job, I did not know what to expect. I had been to Iraq, but only for a few months. I assumed it would be similar. I read on my computer and hear on the news that the economy is not doing well at home. Home... I am a father of a young girl, Melissa. I am also the father of an even younger girl, Rachel, whom I have never held, although I have seen pictures of her. My wife, Ingrid, says they look just like me. I have not spoken to Ingrid for a while. Every time I do, I feel my stomach sinking- the brownish-green, oozing rot of guilt. I fear she is becoming more dependent on alcohol. Or, as I also fear, she may be sleeping with other men. Or abusing our children. She has emailed me a few times lately, but I do not want to read them. I am too scared as to what she may say. I love her, but I feel as if we are drifting apart. I thought of my future as I checked the wall clock. It had been thirty minutes since I had ordered my food. I saw it coming then. I ate, watching the sun go down in the desert In Lebanon Last edited by Kovalchuk; 23-04-2009 at 10:37 PM.

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26-04-2009	#2 (permalink)
Laram Regular Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: North Devon, England. Age: 14 Posts: 744 Threads: 13 Gallery Uploads: 2 Blog Entries: 3 Reputation: 4	Thats Quite Short, But Its Good... I Wonder What The Lebanese Sunset Would Look Like...?