The Cellist of Sarajevo

In Nermin’s office, Arrow waits alone. Nermin finally comes in and Arrow announces that “he’s dead.” Nermin isn’t sure whether Arrow is talking about the cellist or the sniper. Arrow flatly clarifies that it is the sniper, trying not to let herself feel any emotion at all. Nermin notices Arrow’s discomfort and Arrow explains that she shot the sniper while the sniper was listening to the cellist’s music. Nermin nods, then tells Arrow it is time for her to disappear before the Sarajevo militia forces her to break her oath not to kill innocent people.

Arrow is confused, unsure if it is even possible to disappear in a city surrounded by the men on the hill. Nermin continues, explaining that the men on the hill are not the only ones who are destroying Sarajevo. People within the defense are also creating a Sarajevo that condones evil rather than opposing it. Nermin is going to be relieved of his command soon, because he hasn’t wanted to join the militia’s corrupt deals. Nermin apologizes for turning Arrow into a soldier against her father’s wishes. Arrow tells Nermin she forgives him and leaves Nermin’s office.

Arrow walks into the street, wondering if she is still one of the good people because she kills the men on the hill out of hatred. She worries about Nermin, knowing that he will have few options and little safety if he is relieved of his command. When Arrow has walked three blocks, she hears shelling. Other people in the street rush to get to cellars and basements, but Arrow does not hurry. She no longer hides in the basement during shelling, preferring to stay in her bed rather than letting the men on the hill force her into hiding.

A boy runs frantically past Arrow and Arrow recognizes him as an assistant in Nermin’s building. Arrow realizes that this boy is afraid of more than just the shelling, and she stops and turns back toward Nermin’s office. She runs back just in time to see Nermin’s building explode. Arrow falls to her stomach, watching through the scope of her rifle as the fire brigade appears and tames the blaze of the building. They put out the fire and find no survivors. The firemen chatter about how lucky it was that this shell fell after hours, but Arrow knows that this explosion came from inside. Arrow lingers by the building for hours, hoping that Nermin escaped somehow. When two soldiers carry a body out of the building, Arrow goes home.

The shelling continues all night. Arrow listens to it from her bed, wondering if tonight’s damage will even be noticeable in the rubble already covering the city. She thinks she should be more upset about Nermin’s death, but she feels little about anything. She shivers in the cold, hungry after another night of eating rice. She could trade the cigarettes the army gives her for more food, but she can’t be bothered.

Arrow realizes that her stash of cigarettes could be enough to buy her a pass through the tunnel, but she doesn’t really want to leave Sarajevo or the girl she used to be when this city lived in peace. Furthermore, Arrow realizes that she still wants to protect the cellist. She falls asleep.

Arrow is woken by the sound of soldier boots outside her door. She gets out of bed quietly and puts a revolver in her coat pocket. Arrow opens her door to find three men carrying guns, one of them in army fatigues. The men ask if she is Arrow, while Arrow contemplates whether to shoot them or not. The men order Arrow to come with them. Arrow refuses, but the men shift their hands to their guns. Arrow can see that they are afraid of her and is momentarily pleased. But then she realizes she does not want anyone to fear her and goes with the soldiers, who explain that they are taking her to Colonel Karaman.

The men take Arrow to a small café where Colonel Edin Karaman is waiting. Colonel asks Arrow her real name, but Arrow refuses to tell him. The Colonel shrugs, telling Arrow that Nermin has been killed and she is now assigned to the colonel’s unit. Arrow insists that she must keep protecting the cellist, but Karaman explains that there are better uses for Arrow’s talents and that a man waiting outside will tell Arrow of her new orders. Arrow explains that she has always chosen her own targets. Karaman laughs, explaining that Arrow will now do whatever he tells her to in order to protect the city.

Arrow stands up to leave, wondering what her father would do. Karaman calls after her, reminding Arrow that the war has separated the city into us and them. Anyone who is not with the Sarajevo militia is against it. Arrow picks up her rifle, realizing that the choices she has made so far have given her little choice about what to do now.