One day my child will see Cyprus reunited
I MET my wife in 2012. I was working as a pub manager in Kennington, London. It was one of those moments when a pretty girl walks in, and you know you’re going to spend the rest of your life with her. She was and is stunning. I couldn’t figure out her origin, so I asked the question (not the question): where are you from? She smiled and said she was Greek Cypriot. So you’re Greek? Big mistake: never call a Greek Cypriot, Greek. She slammed me down with historic facts. We married, but when I met her parents I sensed a deep emotional loss. They had sad eyes, as if in mourning. Stella and Antonios Ashikka are refugees from the Cypriot war in 1974. They are both from the northern side of the island. Stella recalls coming home from school one day and being given five minutes to pack her bags and leave. She was evacuated from her home, her life, her past, from everything she knew. Antonios (Tony) was born in Kyrenia. His father had been a substantial landowner, but within hours, his land was seized. Tony recalls once going back to Cyprus and visiting his home town, and it was the first time since he had left the island that he became emotional. He was visiting restaurant where in the toilets was an old well surrounded by urinals. He recalls his mother washing the dishes in that well when the room wasn’t a toilet, but her kitchen. He told the manager the food was good, but there was too much haunting his appetite. The manager offered the meal free, but Tony declined. ‘It wasn’t your fault,’ he said. ‘The past is past.’ He paid his bill and left, never to return. We live in Enfield, North London, with its population of Greek and Turkish Cypriots. They sit together in the cafe and talk of memories past. For them the war is over. Cyprus is one land: you never hear a Cypriot say they’re Turkish or Greek. They are Cypriots. I’m a Briton with a half-Greek Cypriot daughter. I hope that one day she sees unity and love. I hope she will be able to visit Cyprus, walk in no man’s land and see beauty rebuilt. I hope she sees Cyprus reunited. Stella and Tony also want to see this happen, but know that for them, time is running out. CHRIS WILD, Enfield, Middx.