Acak Aderaf

In this moment, I want to share a little about one of Paulo Coelho’s novels that left me thinking for quite a long time after I finished it. The book is entitled The Winner Stands Alone, published in 2008. Different from Coelho’s other books which usually feel poetic and spiritual, this one feels darker, sharper, and somehow more realistic. 

Well, hi peeps! Welcome.

This story takes us into the glamorous world of Cannes Film Festival — a place filled with celebrities, luxury, fame, and people who are willing to do anything just to be seen. But behind all the sparkling dresses and expensive parties, Coelho shows us how lonely and empty that world can actually be.

The story revolves around Igor, a successful and wealthy businessman who comes to Cannes with only one purpose: to win back the woman he loves, Ewa. The problem is, Ewa has moved on with another man. Igor believes that love justifies everything, even the most terrifying things imaginable. And from there, the story slowly turns disturbing.

What makes this book interesting is not only the thriller side of the story, but also the way Coelho explores obsession, ambition, and the desperate need to belong in a world obsessed with status. Through different characters — actors, designers, models, producers — we see how people sacrifice their peace, identity, and sometimes humanity just to stay relevant.

Reading this book honestly made me question a lot of things about success and validation. Sometimes people already have everything others dream of, yet still feel painfully incomplete inside. Coelho writes it in such a simple way, but the message hits deeply.***

So, in my opinion, this is not just a story about crime or love. It is a story about emptiness hidden behind glamour, and about how dangerous humans can become when obsession starts replacing reason.

I let the days just pass me by

Too many left without goodbye

I long for voices lost in space;

Their warmth and love, their old embrace. 

So much I bury deep inside

A silent war that none confide

The wounds run deep and fear is wide—

I wear a mask yet stand to hide. 

When life decides to strike, it will.

It bends the soul but tests the will

Yet through the dark I brace and fight

Still holding hope, awaiting light 

And if the past feels out of reach

I pray their hearts remember me

Lately, social media timelines have been filled with watermelon images. Some people put them in their profile pictures, some use them as illustrations, stickers, posters, or simply post them without captions. Interestingly, something as simple as a fruit suddenly became a symbol carrying a much deeper meaning. A watermelon is no longer just a watermelon. Behind its colors, people place support, anger, sadness, solidarity, and humanity...

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At first, I thought it was just another internet trend. You know, the kind of thing that appears massively for several weeks and then disappears once people get bored. But the more I paid attention, the more I realized that symbols have always played important roles in human history. Sometimes, people cannot speak freely. Sometimes words are too dangerous. And in certain situations, symbols become another language for expressing resistance and support.

The watermelon itself became associated with Palestine because its colors represent the Palestinian flag: red, green, black, and white. And because there were moments when the Palestinian flag was restricted or censored in some places, people began using the watermelon as an alternative symbol. A quiet way to say, “We still see you...”

Honestly, what interests me the most is not only the symbol itself, but also how people respond to it. Some genuinely care and try to learn the history behind it. Others simply follow trends because everyone else is doing the same thing. And of course, there are also people who become uncomfortable whenever humanity starts entering conversations that were previously considered “safe” from politics.

That is the strange thing about today’s world. We live in an era where information moves very fast, yet understanding often moves very slowly. People can repost dozens of contents within minutes, but not everyone spends time understanding what they are sharing. Sometimes support becomes performance. Sometimes awareness becomes aesthetics. And sometimes, tragedy becomes algorithm material.

But maybe that is simply the reality of the digital era. Social media has changed the way humans express empathy. In the past, support might have been shown through demonstrations, fundraising, discussions, or writings in newspapers. Now, support can appear through hashtags, profile pictures, reposts, and symbols. Small actions, perhaps. But still actions.

Of course, there will always be debates. Some people think symbols are useless because they do not directly stop wars or suffering. Others believe symbols matter because they keep issues alive in public consciousness. And honestly, I think both perspectives can coexist. Because not everyone contributes in the same way. Some people speak loudly on the streets, while others quietly spread awareness from behind their screens.

However, one thing that should not disappear is sincerity. Because once empathy becomes merely a trend, people will quickly move on to the next topic when the algorithm changes. Today it is Palestine. Tomorrow, another tragedy somewhere else. The internet often teaches us to react quickly, but rarely teaches us to stay long enough to care deeply.

And perhaps that is why symbols become important. Not because they magically solve problems, but because they remind us that somewhere beyond our comfortable rooms, beyond our scrolling fingers, there are humans experiencing fear, loss, hunger, and grief every single day.

In the end, I think humanity has always searched for ways to express solidarity. Sometimes through flags, songs, writings, marches, or even fruits. Strange, maybe. But humans have always attached meanings to objects in order to make feelings easier to carry.

And maybe, behind all those watermelon pictures flooding our timelines, there is one simple message people are trying to say:

“We have not forgotten you...”***