Old man o' war
Nighttime. Full moon. Once grassy road leads out of the woods now nicely asphalted for vehicles to move confidently. Roadside trees were also cleared out for better vision for traffic.The sole sound of crickets from the mash makes the atmosphere vibrant- just like those days of the war, but a bit different. Back then, the only place you can be is in the trenches, or the trees, camo on, eyes pried open for any movement. Now when everything's over, got yourself walking under electric lights and on the road while staring into the familiar woods is such.... exotic experience.
"Brothers, uncles. Relative or not, we've fought ourselves through this formidable war as a family- a big one. Now, one last time, we stand together, march together, fight together, for liberty and freedom is within grasp. One last time, and we will see our mothers, sisters, and hometown again, got to see others or mourn for them. One last time, just one last time, I promise you all, there will be roofs above your head, floors under your feet, with food and a cozy bed waiting for you all. So, let us take it back...."
Our jobs back then were simple: guard the supply route, especially this sector where enemies usually lay mines or directly bombed it with delayed warheads. We waited days and nights, weeks to months- not like it was an easy task, but we did it with minimal casualties.
Still, I remember the summer times the most- a thick layer of dust covered me after 3-4 days of no activity. Hot winds scorched the ground. The sky was clear, and it was blue, deep, deep blue, as the sun was burning radiantly. Sweats mixed with dust into a muddy mixture that hardened when it dried- it makes it hard to move my hands around using my gun. Luckily, most of my assassination attempts were successful with not much trouble.
My index finger twitched a bit, like an after-effect of an era. Dusty fields of sand now blooming meadows, enemies are now far gone, as there is no longer need to be on alert at all times. But, pictures from past times come up every night, every time I try to put myself on the comfy bed, to sleep.
"One last time, I promise you all..."
My captain- our captain, his speech finds me in my sleep at night, makes my old, worn-out heartbeats strong again, my age-soaked body heated up. So just like that, I ended up here, on the road we left on that fated week.
I remembered that it's by the end of March. Supplies and fighters are rallied at places already, so we need not keep our eyes on the supply route anymore. Instead, it's time for a march to the final battle where we take our long waited liberty and freedom. Our team rallied to hear our captain's speech before grouping with others to combine forces.
"One last time..."
Yes, it was the last time we got to fight with our captain. Actually, it was my last time fighting alongside them. All of them, except me, went down for the motherland in the final battle- a tripwire trap got 4 of them and my right ear. Now, every night, I hear them call for me, to the march, to the war, to the final destination of our journey.
-They called out to you again, dad?
My son in the driver's seat breaks the silent atmosphere inside the pick-up truck that he just got a few months back. I braced my wooden walking stick, eyes outside the window watching roadside lights pass by.
-Yes. They called me.
-Did... they say anything else?
Then, there was only silence.
-They called me for a march, not for chit-chat.
-I see...
Light by the road overshine stars in the sky, but I still can feel them there, watching me, watching this country, this freedom that they've been fighting for. I, one day will also become one up there- I can feel it coming- then who will remember us? Will they be forgotten? Would one day our freedom be lost again, then our fight will be in vain? Hard to think. Hard to imagine. But surely, we fought for something- the reality is the proof of it.
-Dad, thank you
Thoughts in my head vaporized like they never existed. I replied, not showing my face:
-Now you've said it.Rest in peace, my brothers. You all fought well.
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