Broken April

Gjorg Berisha, a young man living in the remote High Plateau of Albania, sets out at dusk, rifle in hand, seeking revenge for his brother’s death. He plans to kill Zef Kryeqyqe, a man from another family in the same village. Night creeps in, and Gjorg contemplates what his fate will be and if he will be successful in his pursuit. Six months prior, he failed to kill Zef, wounding him in the neck instead. Gjorg searches. He finds Zef again and takes aim. Before firing, Gjorg calms himself, hoping he won’t make the same mistake as last time: “Please not a wound this time, Gjorg said to himself in a kind of prayer. His family had had great trouble paying the fine for the first wound, and a second fine would ruin them. But there was no penalty for death” (8). Gjorg warns Zef before he fires, honoring the ancient set of laws practiced on the High Plateau, the Kanun. He shoots, killing Zef. 

Gjorg places Zef on his back and puts his rifle near his head, an honorable death according to their Code. The deed done, Gjorg sprints down the road, away from Zef’s body. He encounters a group of people and is forthcoming about having just killed a man.