In a poignant letter, posted on social networks and titled “The day after”, Antonio Gava tries to put the pieces of himself back together. Psychologically, of course. There is the body, bruised (sprained left foot and knee and back, cracked coccyx, stewed adductors…) – “But it’s okay, I’m back home. Not comparable compared to the traumas suffered by others” – But there is especially the head, “and in there, it goes more and more badly” declares Toni.
This open letter is a first step to start the difficult fight of resilience. We give you an excerpt…
“We passed by the rue des Canadiens, a long procession of 200 people (…). I laughed with my friend Fabrice and then…and then…and then. I didn’t understand anything anymore. Two seconds of shouting, a thud, then a heavy impact, and here I am thrown two meters to the left like my friend Fabrice. A few seconds of emptiness, I find myself against the wall of a house, I shout, Toto quickly helping me to regain my senses, apparently not having serious injuries. There, I turn and, the horror. Bodies all over the road over a length of 200m, screams, tears, cries for help, arms raised… A little young lady in tears throws herself into my arms. I thought it was my niece Emma. I hug her to me and there, further amazement, it was my daughter. She was there and I hadn’t yet imagined the chance of being able to greenhouse her. She could have been one of the victims. When I look at the road, I go from hope to worry, from worry to fear, from fear to horror. I know that at this time, there will be deaths. I pray there isn’t but deep down I know I’m having the worst day of my life since my brother died.”
Need to say what has been lived
Antonio Gava lets his anger burst out and calls with all his might for quick and effective sanctions against the perpetrators of this butchery. “They are murderers, I was there. I know what I say. Such criminals should never have the opportunity to drive anything again.”
Antonio Gava says that within the same society, small groups are formed by affinities. “Here, I’m going to ask the survivors of my group to come to the house so that we can empty our bag together. I’m going to take the floor and then afterwards, we’ll see if we have to call on the specialists who are listening to the traumatized by the city”.