Imagine living on the edge of hell, where your heart works at only 50%, and snakes invade your house! Delija Čalaković, a man who has lived alone for decades in the village of Špiljani on the border of Montenegro and Serbia, is not just forgotten – he is living proof of how society can turn its back on those who need help the most.
His small house, in extremely poor condition, lacks even the basic necessities for living. No bathroom, just one light bulb and a radio receiver as his only connection to the outside world. Delija struggles with daily hardships. His heart functions at only half capacity, and he has to buy his own medication because he has no income. His daughter occasionally comes to help, a relative runs a market and helps as much as he can, but his son disappeared from his life years ago, somewhere abroad.
As if health problems weren’t enough, in summer he is tormented by snakes nesting in the walls of his old house. “It needs to be cleared, but what can I do…” says Delija, fighting nature and time that mercilessly takes away his home.
Nights are the hardest when he is left alone with his thoughts. Still, he does not give up. He believes in the kindness of people and hopes someone will help him renovate his hearth and provide basic living conditions. His story is a bitter pill for a society that often forgets its most vulnerable members.
While the world turns to big topics and sensations, Delija Čalaković lives in silence, on the edge of existence, with a heart beating at half strength and snakes keeping him company in the house. This is not just a story about one man – it is a mirror of our society. How long will we keep turning away?
If you think this is too sad to be true, think again. Delija is here, alive and breathing, waiting to be noticed. And you? Will you stay blind or join the conversation? Drop a comment, share your story, or just share this article – maybe that will be the spark of change.
