My breaths were shallow. My heart was pounding in my chest. I pulled the lever and closed my eyes tightly. Then I slightly opened them and saw many colors flashing before my eyes. The Sun was rising and setting so quickly that I could barely even distinguish day and night. I closed my eyes again.
When I opened my eyes, I felt that the floor was moving beneath my feet. I was wearing a tan uniform with tight leather boots. I looked outside from the small window. All I saw was the vast, deep blue sea. I was on a ship. But not just any ship. I was on the Bandırma. I spotted others wearing the same uniform as me. I asked one of them what the date was. He laughed at me. ”Don’t you remember Mehmet? Today is the 19th of May, 1919.” Of course it was. There was a sense of grief going around the room. Some of them had their eyes filled with tears. Some of them were looking up at the sky, their hands open. Praying. Praying for help. Praying for courage. Praying for the best.
Suddenly, someone entered the room. Everyone got into position. I got up too, but I barely even got a glance of his face. He then turned his face towards me. And then it dawned on me. I could recognize those deep, blue eyes anywhere. That hair as yellow and bright as ears of wheat. It was him. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. He looked even more majestic than in the paintings. I suddenly couldn’t move or breath. I was standing in awe. Just then he started talking. ”My fellow soldier brothers, greetings. I am honored to have you all here with. Honored that all of you believe in me and country. This is the beginning of a new era for our country. Fighting beside all of you is going to give me hope. And I hope that all of you feel the same too.”
I was staring at his face and carefully listening to every word he said. My eyes filled with tears. Seeing such a big and inspirational leader in my life meant a lot to me. I was never going to forget this. I tried to wipe my tears without anyone noticing. I looked at him and everyone else in the room one last time. There was bittersweet smile on my face. I could feel a teardrop rolling down my cheek as I closed my eyes.