The roars of guns and cannons died like a breath. Laughter returned, but several families were incomplete.

Children wandered the streets, feeding off each other's hands. Most of the parents were gone. Others were lost.

Jones insisted we wait for our parents. We went to the hideout everyday like lone soldiers. He would lean on my shoulders while we waited till dawn.

Then I saw the newspaper in our new home, and everything changed.

" Oh, you must have seen it too. None of the people who went to the stadium survived..." The mister said, his eyes twinkling with satisfaction. His Hutu accent fought to keep our Tutsi clear, like his words fought to break my heart.

His wife coughed, and he stopped abruptly.

I heard him clearly, but I hoped Jones hadn't.

There was no doubt it was the stadium papa promised he would draw for Jones, but there was massive heap of bodies in its middle.

That evening, Jones dragged me to the hideout again.

I remembered how papa and mama left that morning. The ache I felt at their departure returned.

"Are they gone? Will they not return?" I asked myself.

I looked at my little brother wondering how I would tell him our wait was futile. Would he understand?

He tugged my dirty skirt. “ I don't want to return there. I don't like it there.”

" Me too," I replied, rubbing his bushy kink. “ But we have to manage. Okay?”

He stared at me, but he said nothing.

" We will be fine," I looked away, holding back a storm twirling inside me.

I could sense the sadness in his restless mind. Our new guardians were nothing like papa and mama. Although, they have been our neighbours for years, their tribe took up the arms that ended most of us.

But there was nothing we could do. It was either their home, or the bloody streets.

"Is it true?" He finally asked. I avoided his gaze and nodded. Somehow I knew he has heard.

Jones got up and took my hand.

“I want to see the stadium. Let me see the paper.”

I felt something cold run down my cheeks. Jones dabbed my cheeks and smiled.

“ I want to see them one more time.” He spoke of our parents.

I nodded and walked him home. I can't predict how he would react or how tomorrow will turn out but I hope we won't be alone.