Two months have elapsed since the Brussels attacks, in which 32 innocent lives were lost. Families of those lives lost were left picking up the pieces, their lives changing forever. There is no expressing the agony they went through in seeing their loved ones gone from them forever, an agony that will stay with them forever.
Since then Brussels has worked in restoring normality. The Brussels airport departures lounge is slowly getting back to normal. Gone are the security checks before entering the airport, the long queues to enter. The days when many missed their flights as a result of heavy delays when checking in and passing through security (twice) seem to be behind us now. Maalbeek metro station, has also since reopened to the public.
Although, as a Brussels resident, I will never forget this day, I have, like many others, worked at moving on from this. We continue as normal in our work life, routine chores, in everything we do here. I always stated that I will not let them take away my free spirit, nor let them instil fear in me. A fear that would stop me from doing the things I love to do. However it took me a while to adjust back to how things were before the attacks happened. For a start, my first reaction was to station my son back in Malta while I finish my term at European Parliament. My duty, first and foremost, is to protect him above all. It took a lot of convincing for me to decide to keep him here with me for the time being and continue with his schooling here in Brussels. He is very happy there with his school friends, I do not wish to deprive him from that. At age 8, he is aware of all that happened. It was tough explaining the events to him but we know that if he didn’t hear it from us he would have spoken about it with his friends at school. But he is a brave young lad.
Yes, all seems calm and it is business as usual back in Brussels. I am a little worried with the fact that the level of security here looks poorly. What worries me is that everything feels so relaxed after these horrific attacks, perhaps a tad too relaxed. I was crossing the border to France two weeks ago. It took us over two hours to cross over to France because there was security at the border. Every department store or commercial centre in Paris had security that checked your bags before entering the establishment. Heading back to Brussels was a different story. No security at the border. No checks when entering shopping centres. At times it feels as though nothing ever happened. This can be rather alarming. All around you see soldiers armed with rifles in a pose that looks as though they are ready to strike any second. I am trying to understand how they could possibly be quick enough to stop someone detonating a bomb beneath his or her jacket in the midst of a busy street in Brussels. But sadly, this can happen anywhere...
Some may say, they hit Paris, they hit Brussels, so chances are they may strike there again. I thought that too. But I fear this theory is wrong. IS will strike again when we least expect it. They will show their power and prove to all that they are still there. They will lie low for a while so as to let everyone relax and forget the ugly incidents of the 22nd March, then they will emerge stronger and more ferocious than ever with more attacks anywhere they deem suitable for them, no matter where. I hope that in saying so I am wrong.
We just need to be vigilant. We need to be careful. Easier said than done, yes, but, then at the end of the day nowhere is safe. Many people I have spoken to have told me that chances of dying in a terrorist attack is as high (or as low) as being run over by a car or dying in a plane crash, a heart attack or a stroke. Yes that is very true and some are beyond our control. I believe that our fate is written. I live a few metres away from Maalbeek metro station, one station I often use. My flight back to Malta was due that evening. I kept saying for days, it could have been me but thankfully it wasn’t.
I speak to family and relatives back home in Malta and many seem reluctant to go to Brussels or Paris on holiday following what happened over the past months. I live in Brussels and all I can say is we have continued to move on, albeit more cautious than ever before. My message to all holidaymakers or those planning to visit Brussels or Paris to continue with their plans. I still insist no one should allow them to instil fear in humanity.