Showing results by author "Antoine Leiris" in All Categories

On November 13, 2015, Antoine Leiris’s wife, Hélène Muyal-Leiris, was killed by terrorists while attending a rock concert at the Bataclan Theater in Paris, in the deadliest attack on France since World War II. Three days later, Leiris wrote an open letter addressed directly to his wife’s killers, which he posted on Facebook. He refused to be cowed or to let his 17-month-old son’s life be defined by Hélène’s murder. He refused to let the killers have their way: “For as long as he lives, this little boy will insult you with his happiness and freedom.”

Antoine Leiris a perdu sa femme, Hélène Muyal-Leiris, le 13 novembre 2015, assassinée au Bataclan. Accablé par la perte, il n'a qu'une arme : sa plume. À l'image de la lueur d'espoir et de douceur que fut sa lettre "Vous n'aurez pas ma haine", publiée au lendemain des attentats, il nous raconte ici comment, malgré tout, la vie doit continuer. C'est ce quotidien, meurtri mais tendre, entre un père et son fils, qu'il nous offre. Un témoignage bouleversant.

"J'ai attendu de nous savoir solides pour reprendre la plume. J'ai alors tenté de consigner les mues, cette écume du changement, depuis la perte de tous les repères jusqu'à cet instant où le ciel se dégage, presque d'un coup. C'est là que vient la vie, après."

One night last winter, Antoine Leiris was at home looking after his son while his wife, Hélène, was at a concert with friends. Suddenly he started receiving text messages asking if he was okay. Turning on the TV, Antoine watched the terrorist attacks in Paris unfolding around him and tried to call Hélène. She didn't answer. That night Hélène was killed, along with 88 other people, at the Bataclan Theatre. Three days later Antoine wrote an open letter to his wife's killers on Facebook. He refused to be cowed or to let his 17-month-old son's life be defined by their acts.

Am 13. November 2015 sah Antoine Leiris seine Frau Hélène zum letzten Mal - sie wurde an diesem Tag mit neunzig weiteren Personen im Konzertsaal Le Bataclan Opfer der Terroranschläge in Paris. Während die Welt geschockt und in tiefer Trauer versuchte, eine Erklärung für das Unfassbare zu finden, postete der vierunddreißigjährige Journalist auf Facebook einen offenen Brief.