Private Read

Dust was flying. Vehicles were exploding. People were dying. And he was next. The next in line to find the end on the battlefield. The next in line to face the teamup of the enemies Death and War. After years of wondering, he would finally know what it felt like, to not exist. Would he be missed? He hoped so. Family and friends had been left behind, so he could defend and protect them. Or, that's what he was told.

He never believed the lies about the glory of war. War was an enemy. An enemy that was immortal. No army could stop war. They would only fuel its hunger, its hunger for destruction. And that's why war continued to thrive. That's why no one could stop it. Why no one could end it.

He wondered why he'd think about all this now, about to knock on Death's door. He knew that all along, it was never the right thing to do, but why did he join? Why did he enlist in death's army, marching in a recruitment effort, completing his mission with every dead body? Private Read, never knew.

The hum of a fighter loomed overhead, a signal that help would soon come. But Private Read didn't need help, he wanted the nightmare to finally end. But, that end would never come, as reinforcements made their way to the Private's position, helping him and his platoon to complete the task at hand.

He still felt guilty, every time he pulled the trigger. That guilt was a part of him that never forgot what it meant to be kind, and humane. He still pushed on, past that guilt, because it was expected of him. It was his orders.

The Lieutenant assembled the last of his platoon.

"Good work, troops. We've just helped achieve more progress in this campaign. Get some rest, we move out tomorrow! Private Read, may I talk to you?"

The Private made his way towards the Lieutenant.

"Yes sir?"

"Son, your being released today." The officer said, eyes soft with remorse that they were losing a good soldier.

"I am?" The Private asked, hoping eagerly that he would be free from the burdens of war.

"Yep. You're being sent to another platoon." The Lieutenant replied.

"Oh." The Private said, eyes cast down in disappointment. He should've known it was too true, the promise of death would never let him go so soon. It would always loom over him, until the mission was finally over.

So shipped away this young man was, to a new platoon stationed where the real fighting was. But Private Read would never despair, keeping his head up in the air. The reason for this was quite simple, his family back home, and his many friends. But that thought was what sickened him the most. What if they thought he was dead? What if they thought he was toast?

He shuddered to think about the pain they might feel, how they might think that their fears were real. So he landed on Pearl Beach in the thick of it all. The battle was being lost by the look of things. Dead men scattered, vehicles torn. Medics tending to wounded, were seen all around him. Then,

"GET DOWN!"

The Private dashed for cover, but cover never came. His eyes finally closed, it was time to end the game. That afternoon, while Kate Read was watching cartoons, the soldier came, a letter in his hand. Jane Read opened the door, as he said, "I'm sorry ma'am."

Tears welled up in the mother's eyes, as she read of her son's demise. That day, the whole of Elwood City mourned at the loss of one of their own. The brave Private Arthur Read would be gone forever more.

A/N: This is my darkest piece ever. And I think it's a mix between poetry and story. I know it ended rather fast, and felt rather rushed, but I think I ended it where it needed to be ended. So I hope I did well, but as always, tell me what you think in the review. Thanks for taking a look.