Summary

A man recounts his harrowing experience of surviving a sniper attack in Damascus during the Syrian war, reflecting on the juxtaposition of war and the continuity of nature, and the profound impact the event had on his appreciation for life.

Abstract

In March 2013, the author, Subhi Najar, found himself caught in a crossfire in Damascus, a city otherwise known for its historical significance and beauty. The day began typically, but a sudden attack near a conflict zone shattered the calm, with bullets striking his car and forcing him to take cover. Amidst the chaos, he observed the stark contrast between the ongoing war and the serene spring sky, contemplating the resilience of nature and life itself. Despite the terrifying ordeal, the author found solace in music and a newfound strength, which helped him escape the sniper's range. The experience left him with a deeper understanding of the fragility and preciousness of life, inspiring him to live more intensely and value every day.

Opinions

The author believes that war does not halt the natural cycle of life, as evidenced by the peaceful sky and continuing seasons despite the conflict.
He reflects deeply on the nature of time during crisis moments, referencing a quote attributed to William Shakespeare to illustrate time's subjective perception.
The author finds an unexpected source of comfort and courage in music, specifically the lyrics of Chris De Burg's "The Snows of New York," which resonate with his survival instinct.
He emphasizes the transformative power of his experience, stating that it has given him a greater appreciation for life and a desire to live fully, help others, and avoid negativity.
Despite the lingering trauma, symbolized by the occasional ringing in his left ear from the bullet's echo, the author feels that the "whispers of life" triumph over the destructive sounds of war.
The author identifies himself as an "Alchemist of words," a storyteller, and a war survivor, suggesting that his writing is both a personal vocation and a means of sharing his experiences with others.

I am a War Survivor

When The Hands of Death Opened the Doors of Different Life

There were a few white clouds scattered here and there like beautiful seagulls invading the ocean… It was a typical day in the city…. It is Damascus, the oldest capital in the world, or the sister of history, as we called our beloved city.

At that moment, all of Syria was engulfed in war, with Damascus somewhat less affected, as I thought. Although I knew that some neighborhoods in Damascus were being used to clashes from time to time between government forces and rebels, I had no idea what it would be like to witness one of these mind-blowing events.

It was a spring day in March 2013, and I was driving near newly announced clashes areas ( without knowing of course) when a thunderous sound sounded…or so I thought. Bullets shattered the rear window glasses into thousands of pieces.

The car crossed the pavement into a garden after I lost control. There was a stop in the car, but not a stop in the bullets. I only subconsciously opened the door, covered my head, and hid next to the car. It was a sniper, I believed. In front of me, I saw three blood-stained bodies. It appeared that they were killed recently…

In a garden of “death” under that sky of March, I made every effort to hide and gather myself. In the first 3–4 minutes after what happened, gathering the glasses from the car’s rear window would be much easier than gathering my scattered pieces. Through my watch ( Although its glasses were also partially damaged in the accident, it continued to function ), I only knew that it had been 3–4 minutes. These minutes seemed like a decade or maybe a lifetime to me.

“ Time is very slow for those who wait Very fast for those who are scared Very long for those who lament very short for those who celebrate But for those who love, Time is eternal.” William Shakespeare

During those moments, I had countless eye-opening deep thoughts. Among them was the fact that if war attacks, the sky shouldn’t be cloudy or red! The seasons, air, water, sky, and gardens continue to play their role even during wartime. My head was filled with scenes from (Saving Private Ryan ) and other war movies where nature echoes the darkness of war, but reality seemed to be different as war and death can go hand in hand under the sky of spring.

In the middle of a sea of thousand thoughts, I noticed the music in the car was continuing. Out of the blue, the music became the only sound I could hear in my head. My ears seemed to be the only functioning organ in my body! I stopped smelling the unpleasant smells coming from the garden of death. I just heard Chris De Burg singing “ There are those who fail, there are those who fall, there are those who will never win. Then there are those who fight for the things they believe and these are men like you and me.”

It’s hard for me to describe the sudden strength I had. It felt like I was repeating myself like you and me, you and me…. I was covered in sweat, glasses, blood, and scratches. I was lucky not to have a major injury after touching my head, face, chest, and limbs.

My car was stopped and my glasses were broken, but the bullets did not break my pandora box that seemed still full of hope.

I had to plan how I would make it while I was on the ground. The weird thing is that I used to manage projects where time and plans were everything. It was paradoxical at that moment that I needed both a plan and time to survive.

Again, it was so quiet. Despite being too silent and too painful, my brain began to function properly again. There seemed to be no serious clashes yet, but they would very soon. I just had to cross the garden and the road to be out of the sniper’s reach. It’s always better to go back to where you came from when you’re in such a situation.

Slowly, like a 9-month-old baby, I crawled, but not sure since nothing is certain under the grim reaper’s scythe. Through the glass, blood, soil, grass, and asphalt, I crawled. Reaching my goal required more or less six or seven meters. In a flash, I felt like my left ear was exploding…..a bullet was maybe 5–10 centimeters away…I ran like Carl Lewis (the fastest man of our generation). Although I was far away from the area, I kept running like crazy… I made it and I became a war survivor.

My life has drastically changed as a result of this experience. While I don’t claim to understand life better than others, I believe that when circumstances put you on the verge of death and you recovered, you discovered more of the value of life and its beauty.

It is worth living life so intensely. Every day is simply a grace that I learn to enjoy. As much as possible, I try to learn, help others, focus on what I want and love and stay away from all negative people & energies.

Although the echo of the crazy bullet still sometimes invaded my left year, I feel life whispering to me all the time that I had the chance to live again.

There is no doubt in my mind that whispers of life will always triumph over the ugly sounds of war

Subhi Najar is an Alchemist of words, Little Prince, Public Speaker, storyteller, content Creator, and war survivor.

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