Nothing Like What They Say

NOTE: MATURE-ISH AUDIENCE

 Shrapnel flies through the air, cutting flesh into bloody pieces, men releasing blood-curdling cries and deep gutteral moans. War is nothing like what they say in the books, it’s nothing like what they show in the promotional movies. It is so much worse. It is not to be glorified, it is not an honor, it is a death sentence.

 Friends, sons, husbands, nephews, cousins can all be chopped down by the single bullet released from the metal barrel; the men firing them are so war-crazed. Everywhere you look, there’s a corpse, and after so long, seeing this is everyday life, nothing out of the blue, and that’s the most terrifying thing.

 Your home will never seem the same, you mind will be poisoned with memories of death and blood. Ghosts of men you killed will haunt you, appearing with your family, appearing in your dreams, this time killing you.

 Take it from me, I know what I’m talking about. I’ve seen the pains of war, twice. I’ve seen women raped, and small children sold from their relatives, men tortured to death, beaten too. I’ve seen them all drop dead, I’ve seen them all lie on the ground, the life leaked out of their eyes, their faces paler than the whitest cloud in the bluest sky. I’ve seen it all, and there’s nothing to do to make it go away.

Author's Note

Comments/suggestions welcomed! Thanks for reading.

Reviews

[Wolfwind]

This sounds to be the voice of the grizzled war veteran as he's sitting on some old park bench talkin to some young punk who doesn't know nuth'n. =)
I'd love to know what goes around this snipit of tale.

As always, you have a wonderful way with the visual scene and can create those moments in mental 3D.

Great writing!
Aaron

[K.]

Thankfully, I'm neither of those! And thank you so much for always reading and providing support/constructive criticism.

[Craig2591]

So, so true. And well said. Straight forward and to the point.

[K.]

Thank you very much, Craig.