Ruined For Life

Orders were being barked out by the commander, and soldiers were scurrying around, trying to find their appropriate positions. One could tell he seemed frustrated. Major losses and not one victory over a couple of years could do that to a commander like him. Rumors had gone around about how unlucky the platoon had been and how many pathetic lives they'd lost. With such a reputation, one would still wonder why they were still being put on the battlefield. A question even the grim-looking commander didn't know the answer to. Fighting for their hopeless country and an even more hopeless government that never seemed to bat an eyelid over the poor lives lost, and yet here they were, on the same spot they seemed to occupy for the last fifteen years and fighting yet another powerful country who would no doubt take most of their soldiers out once again. Tom surveyed the area, and much to his dismay, the place was still in disarray. They were supposed to be setting up to ambush the enemy, and he might add a tactic as old as time that never seemed to work. Settling down in a corner, he closed his eyes and let his mind wander off just the way it does minutes before battle. The sun had just set, and the night breeze was becoming cooler and cooler by the minute. After frantically looking for her in their enormous house, he decided to walk out through the back and there she was. Golden locks that stopped at her mid-back were swaying to the fluid movements of the wind. Her sundress that hugged her perfectly was flair at the bottom, and it was also moving with the wind. It was like they were obeying its every command. He approached her and hugged her from the back. He had always loved her smell, so he nestled his head on her neck and inhaled her scent, implanting it in his brain, so he wouldn't forget. They stood there for minutes in comfortable silence and listened to the sound of the waves and winds. "Come on, let's go inside, you will catch a cold at this rate," he told her. She gave only the slightest nod, and he took her hand and led her back inside. Looking back once more to enjoy the scenery, he shut the door. As he opened those eyes, a pang hit his chest that was all too familiar. He could never seem to get her off his mind. He rolled the pendant he had subconsciously removed from his pockets in his hands. It was the last gift she had given him before it happened, and he took it to his nose and, just like always, her scent lingered on the metallic object, and he took the moment to enjoy her presence somewhat. It was impossible for a scent like that to still linger after so many years of being tossed around. Despite that, he was grateful that it was there. He still wonders why he decided to throw his life away all those years ago to join the army, and he had a feeling it had to do with when the love of his life left him for good in his hands. She was what held him down. She gave him purpose, and now he holds resentment towards whoever took away the one good thing he had in his life. Placing the pendant where it belonged, close to his heart, he thought to himself that it wouldn't matter where the pendant was because she would forever remain a part of him. Pulling his mind back to the present, he stormed off just as the fight was about to begin. Despite the commander's dismay, the battle appeared to have no end, with many soldiers injured and still receiving treatment. The thought of retreating crossed his mind; the only thing that he wished would never come to him while they were on the field. However, unlike other times, he wanted to sit this one through, and even if he knew it would still end badly, he still had a flicker of hope. Looking through his plans once more, he decided to come up with a new strategy that would at least give them a better advantage and get the rest of the soldiers to safety before he lost more viable soldiers. Tom laid low on his belly, mashed between two dead bodies, and tried to squirm free. After many attempts, he finally managed to get out, crouching just enough to avoid being spotted. He looked around and realized that if they didn't reach safety soon, this battle would not end well for either him or his comrades. Scurrying away, he got closer to another one of his moving associates, Joe. "What's the situation back at the commander's?" he asked. “Flin just said that the commander is looking at a new strategy. What's your take on the situation?" Joe asked him. Looking down at his blood-clad shirt, he answered. "Honestly, it would be better if we'd just get the rest of us down to safety before we lose more soldiers". Joe nodded in agreement. Hidden perfectly well behind a barricade, they decided that Joe would throw a grenade and that would spare them enough time to run away. "1, 2," Tom counts "Go!" Joe shouts as he throws the grenade. They both take off, maneuvering their way through roadblocks and narrowly missing the dead bodies that have somehow been camouflaged in the mud. Different places fired shots that barely missed Tom's head. Joe lies sprawled face down in the mud; turning Joe over, Tom sees a clear shot to his chest and Joe is desperately gasping for air. "Hey, hey stay with me, Joe. You are going to be alright, okay?" he says. Spitting out more blood and smiling, Joe manages to ask, "Hey, can you do something for me?" "Anything", Tom replied. "Could you at least tell my family I died awesomely?" Not finding the humor in the situation, Tom says, "You've got a bullet in you and the only thing you care about is having an awesome death story?!" Managing a strained laugh, he says, “And also watch over my little boy for me, so he doesn’t end up like his sorry ass dad” "Oh, come on, Junior knows you are a badass dad," Tom retorts. Sniffing, Joe says. "Also tell Helena that I love her" “She will always know you love her, Joe.” "Yeah, she will, won't she?" he asks, and Tom only nods. "Tom?" Joe calls out. “Yeah” "This is not your fault, okay?" "Yes, it is." Shaking his head, Joe says, "No it's not, it's not your fault that you came up with a plan to get us both out safely." "And it would have been worthwhile, had we both emerged safely." "It happens and no matter what, don't let anybody hold you responsible for my death, yourself including" "Alright Joe, if that's your last wish, then so be it." “I love you man”, Joe says out of the blue. "Dude, that's not a manly thing to say," Tom laughed. "Oh, come on, say it back before I go." "I love you too, man". And with that, Joe goes limp, smiling in Tom's hands. Once again, right before his eyes and simultaneously in his hands, he witnessed another good thing being taken away from his life. A few slow seconds pass before he can realize what is actually happening and another slower second before he can react. Everything happens too fast for him, and before he knows it, he finds himself hurled far away from Joe's body. It takes about a million seconds for him before he finally lands with a loud thud on the ground. He couldn't make out any words or voice his pain and there is suddenly a ringing sound going on in his head. Grunting and trying to shout for help, these two actions take a bulk of his strength, and before he knows it, everything goes black.