Irene’s memories of the genocide still flood her with pain, as if it were only yesterday. Thirty years later, her navy blue eyes still shine with the same fear and hunger she experienced during those dark days. The violent loss of family and friends still haunts her, and she pays her respects at one of the fifteen mass graves at the Gisozi National Memorial in Kigali where they rest.
Irene finds it difficult to visit the memorial, as she must gather her emotions to tell her story well. As she navigates the stairs of the “Forest of Memory” towards the immense gray concrete tombs, she composes herself and prepares to face the past. The week of national mourning approaches, and Irene knows it will be a time of reflection and sorrow.
The graves stand in the shadow of trees as a reminder of the atrocities committed during the genocide. Irene’s heart aches as she stands before them, remembering those she lost and the pain that still lingers. The memorial serves as a place of remembrance and mourning for those who perished, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable horror.
