What heroes do not tell

He, of course, did not know the lens was targeting him.

The only thing that matters was to alleviate the intense heat in that hell, the tiredness —as heavy as centuries—, and desolation as well.

He did not tell anyone, not even to himself. That feeling of the water pouring over him was enough, perhaps like a “sadness sweeper,” although there was no place for que cherubim next to the Devil’s Kettle.

Photographer Julio César García, working for Giron newspaper, took that picture and he possibly sensed everything while clicking the shutter.

He did not tell the firefighter, whose was unknown to him. But he did not need to. He was all firefighters at the time, all the courage and fears under that rescue.

Perhaps it was the last glass of water he would drink. But his thoughts would never go there. Nor would he believe he was doing something great, which need a huge amount of courage, and immense love. He was not thinking about medals, standing ovations, much less being eternized by the photojournalist’s camera.

These are things heroes do not think over, or tell, not even in a photo.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSi Translation Staff