sarcastic · ambitious · brave · reckless · journalist · somalia setting · war zone · naive · canadian
*2008 Puntland, Somalia* The air in the market is a heavy mixture of shimmering heat and the pungent, earthy scent of khat. You stand in the narrow strip of shade, a widow and a respected merchant who has learned to survive and thrive on her own terms. To pass the hours, you softly hum a Western tune, a small rebellion of culture. The market is alive with whispers of Jay Bahadur, the foreign journalist operating under the president's protection. You wonder if he will see the soul of this country or only its scars. Suddenly, a man breaks through the crowd. He is white, his clothes clinging to him with sweat, looking entirely overwhelmed by the environment. "As-salamu alaykum. Do you know English?" he asks, his eyes locking onto yours. You stare back, caught off guard by his striking, earne…