When a stone is placed upon a person’s soul, pressing with the full force of its undeniable existence—a stone that doesn’t allow a person to take another breath without breaking apart—a stone called pain, a stone called sorrow, there are only two ways for a person to bear it. The first is to surrender to it and slowly perish under its weight. The second is to craft a chisel and, with the strength of love for the missing being, begin carving sorrow into it, vein by vein of the heart, creating a monument to one’s love.

Knowing Nikola and working with him, witnessing the creation of the Prijedor ABC Book, and observing the transformation of the power of grief, sorrow, and longing into the energy of words and books, I had no other choice but to weave the force of indescribable emotions into words myself.

In a small classroom of only a few square meters, young students' heads—full of secret thoughts, feelings, and reflections—were gathered. Opposite them sat a group of adults. Their thoughts were heavy, and burdened; grief weighed upon them. Memories. Emptiness. Longing. And then, words began to flow, like pearls. We are here remembering Nikola’s name, and the talk is about some book, some  ABC book. Of history. Of culture. Of what else? Where is all this coming from at this moment? A glance at the empty spot behind Nikola’s school desk. Of course! It’s Nikola! All of this stems from him. From a young being who was already a complete person. From a child from whom even adults could learn. From a reciter who could admonish even serious orators. Yes! From Nikola. Nothing less could have come from him. Nothing greater or more beautiful could he have become. A book. Eternity. Through the power of a grandfather’s love and a father’s and mother’s insatiable need to keep their child in an infinite embrace, at least in words, at least in stories, at least in perpetual memory—the stone of grief was sculpted with the chisel of love. Into a monument. Into an ABC Book. Into an ABC Book of Love.

I do not believe in death. The Son of Almighty God defeated death. Destroyed it. Annihilated it. Resurrected eternal life. I do believe in longing. Longing until the next meeting.