She permitted a single, sobering tear to stream down her right cheek, as she tightened her grip on my hand, and began to speak: "You asked me where it hurts, and forgiveness would not be an easy task, if I were to lie and pretend I am fine, instead of wearing many masks." "It hurts everywhere", she continued, "there is no inch of me without pain. Nor is there a moment in my day without ache, tension, or strain." Then the dam broke, and her sadness poured from her like a flood, waves of nausea washed over me at the sight of her sadness stained by civilian blood. "Take for instance, Israel or the Gaza Strip, right here in the Middle East," at this, she pointed to her abdomen and winced like it was being devoured by some unseen beast. Humans have destroyed me, killing one another in the process, the ugliness of man is unlike any other to prevent its own progress. Their bombs rip me to shreds, and replace my beauty with craters; ...