Lebanese Diaspora Love and Longing: A Personal Vent
Resumo
In r/Lebanon, a young man from the Lebanese diaspora shares a heartfelt account of returning to his village, forming a close bond with a neighbor, and facing the pain of leaving after summer. The story explores belonging, first love, and the emotional ties that connect diaspora members to Lebanon.
My Body is Here, My Soul is Elsewhere (vent)
I am an 18 year old man from the Lebanese diaspora.
This story begins last summer, when I was seventeen and visiting my Fatherland for the first time in years. That summer was unforgettable– I became somewhat of a celebrity in my village, making friends left and right. I had so much fun, going to clubs in the city and spending precious time with my family and those friends. But the crown on the throne, the cherry on the cake, the orange blossom on the soil was my downstairs neighbor who was a younger girl. Her name was Maria.
She was a blast, but in a simple way. We would get lawn chairs and sit in front of our apartment building and just talk and talk for hours, about nothing and about everything. The time we spent together was simple, but it fulfilled me. Her wide smile, her playfulness and her sense of humor– it was just all so wonderful.
By the time my time there was running out and I had to go back to the states, the whole neighborhood was grieving my departure. But especially Maria.
About three days before I had to go, her and I went out on a walk in the village where we went picking flowers, jasmine and a couple other kinds. That's when she told me she had to tell me a secret, so I lent her an ear when she said she loved me.
I was in shock, it felt like forever that I was just standing there unable to respond. I thought to act quickly so I just simply told her I loved her back.
Before we knew it, the sun was coming down which meant we had to go back home before the dogs came out. And during that walk back home, what had happened was setting deeper and deeper into my soul.
She walked into the building ahead of me and she went down her flight of stairs parallel to mine, before I looked over the guard down at her and got her attention. I reached my hand down and she reached for it. I took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze while smiling. Then we went back to our apartments.
After that, the feelings hit me like a truck. I got super giddy and almost screamed into my pillow. That showed that aft...
Post Author: /u/ToeZealousideal8239
Content Warning: None
