خضر شفيق بدر: عندما تسأل عنه يجيبك كل من عرفه وعاشره أنّه كان ودوداً ولطيفاً، بنفس الوقت كان صاحب مبدأ في تعاملاته كالحديد الصّلب.

عائلته كانت الأولوية في حياة خضر، زوجته فاطمة كانت شغف الحنين بالنّسبة له. أولاده السّتّة حبّه لهم كان كالجمر المشتعل في الموقدة. أحفاده كانوا كالزّنابق حوله، و كالنّحل في الزّهر. أمّا اليوم فتحوّلت الحياة من بعده إلى حقل قاحل. كان أباً مختلفاً وجميلاً.

In Khodor’s life, there are many stories worth telling. The most compelling is probably the one where he had a very close brush with death. He was coming back from a business trip in Turkey with his cousin, when their car rolled over at the Lebanese Syrian borders, and stopped at the edge of a deep valley. A God sent person saved them and disappeared before they could even show their gratitude.

Khodor spent so many sleepless nights discussing his children’s future with his wife. The job alone is no more enough, it would be foolish to think otherwise. Thus, he decided to start his own trade business, and he opened a clothing store in the neighborhood of Tarik Jdide, and it changed their lives for the better. Khodor did not benefit alone from his success, but helped his siblings improve their quality of life, and supported them all the way.

دائماً في حياة البشر تبقى اللّوحة ناقصة فيداهمُنا المرض ويسجنُنا في داخله ويخطف ابتسامتنا. هذه كانت حال خضر مع مرض السّكري الذي تدرّج في خلايا جسده حتى أصبح العلاج في المستشفى أمراً لايحتمل التّأجيل.

دخل خضر إلى المستشفى، وهو يحتضن الأمل بالشّفاء. لم يكن يدري أنّه بعد عدّة أيّام سيودّع الوجوه التي يحبّها وأنّه في لحظة غير متوقّعة سيغلق الكتاب آخر صفحاته ويمضي.

Khodor was ecstatic he would be discharged in a few days. Suddenly, an earthquake like explosion hit in the middle of Beirut wreaking havoc with its shock waves. Khodor’s veins were cut by the shards of glass shattering all over his body. A week later, he passed away at 66; Sixty-six years of love and giving.