There's this saying from the elders in my village that goes like this "A man should only shed his tears for the one he love, A man should only bleed for the land he grew up with". One of the Elders, Zonga Domi, he lived through the toughest time of the village where we fought with the other village, Poponga for the cattles, food, and women. He was our best warrior who fought for our dignity and pride. But he shed his tears night after night not for the lands he failed to protect but for the women he failed to love. And her name is, Shamela.

47 years ago......

Zonga was known to be one of the best warriors of Zirmog Village at the age of 20, he fought hundreds of men to get what he achieved but not the one he admired. Her name is Shamela, daughter of the village headman and she is known all over the village for her beauty and kindness. Zonga fell in love with her the moment he met her, although there were sparks of romance and even the village headman agreed to their love but it did not last long when their rival village Poponga raged a war for the herds of cattles Zirmog owns.

As a warrior of Zirmog, Zonga stood out to protect the land and dignity of the people of Zirmog, Zonga was wounded again and again, but he stood up every time to protect the land he grew up on and for the women he love. On a few occasions where his life was at stake, Shamela appeared in his mind and it was Shamela who kept him fighting and motivates him to stay alive.

Zonga's hardwork paid off and Zirmog was safe from the invasion but Zonga was left heart broken, Shamela was killed on the night before by people of Poponga as a revenge for the loss in the war. She was killed when the Popongas burned their hut into ashes and she left nothing for Zonga.

Zonga was devastated by her death, even the victory couldn't lift his spirit. He sings the song they both loved which is Zirmog's folk song to get her spirit back to him day after day. He shed his tears night after night while humming the favorite song. Nobody know their love was that strong, not even Shamela's parents.

Zonga never get married to show his love for Shamela, he promised to fight for the land they grew up and fell in love with his life in every war and he succeeded not only in defending their land but also their love.

Today, I looked at Zonga in his eyes, I saw alots of stories and lots of tears. On the night before he left for Shamela, he smiled as if its the best thing on Earth that he is getting. He told me that he could see Shamela waving and smiling at him. He held my hands tight and tell me, "Jorja, I lived my life as a warrior to defend my land and the one I love, eventhough I was left alone after her death but I live to defend my home, it was her who keeps me alive because we both know, Zirmog is a land where we fell in love and its where we want to end our lives. Jorja, fight not for yourself but for the one you care."

He left after saying it to me which left me wondering for days... Love keeps us alive! Not only for the one we love but also for the land we love.