Say Goodbye

Skies painted red as the sunsets over desert lands.
You're standing watch over your fleet.
All you hear is the beating of your own heart
and feel a hightened sense of your surroundings.

Night falls and blankets you in a dark abyss -
artificial lighting from dim stars and distant gun shots fired a few miles down.
You raise your infrared goggles to your eyes
and, like a hawk, survey your surroundings.

[Gun fire; another flash - drawing closer]

As you lower your goggles, you realize that the gun shots are close -
you hear it crack as a steel bullet whizzes past you.
You duck behind the humvee and yell to your sleep comrades.
No one stirs - you run inside your shelter, yelling louder.

Everyone wakes and rushes to grab their gear - meeting you outside.
You're ducked behind one of the humvees as four of your fellow warriors rush to your side.
Five more take refuge behind the second humvee as the firing reigns on;
tick after tick of enemy bullets slashing away at the metal refuge.

[Steady fire - orders not to return; another clash]

Suddenly there's an explosion and you look to your left.
The second humvee is engulfed and your warriors are dead -
bodies slain across the desert sands.
The wind picks up; a sandstorm ensues and your vision worsens.

One of your close friends starts returning fire; disobeying your orders.
You hell at him to get down; to take cover - but he refuses.
The next thing you hear is a mangled cry as his body falls into you -
blood pouring from the gape in his neck.

You try everything to stop the blood flow but it's endless -
What's left of your squad protects you - returning fire when needed.
Your friend grabs your vest and gasps for air.
"Tell...my family...I...love them..." then dies in your arms.

You wail out in agony as one of your squad throws grenades blankly into the enemy firing line.
You return fire - hiding behind the humvee and ducking between rocks.
Suddenly there's a loud click and your barracks buddy pushes you out of the way -
jumping on the grenade and sacrificing her life to save yours.

[Only three remain]

You continue fire - endless into the night;
the gunshots becoming a serenade in your ears,
then finally it stops - not another sound -
no more firing; no more explosions - nothing.

You return to your post after pulling back the bodies of the fallen -
the other two stuck by you all night -
not another sound or even a peep;
you stare blankly at each other - covered in dirt and blood from your friends.

[Day breaks]

The next day you're all discharged honorably for one reason or another.
As you load into the chopper, your heart sinks.
You realize that you didn't lose friends that night -
you lost family.

The entire ride home, you spoke not a word to each other.
Your heads hung low and tears flowing from tired eyes -
you look out the window and say goodbye to what has been your home for four years now
and with a heavy sigh, your heart goes out to the fallen.

As you step foot back on what used to be your country,
you hold your head up and look at yourself in the glass.
Never again will you wear the camoflauge or sleep in the dirt.
And with one final salute to your brother and sister, you part ways.

Not a day goes by where it doesn't replay -
like a nightmare that's stuck in rewind.
Everytime you close your eyes it happens again
and with a heavy sigh, you raise your hand to your head and salute the sky.

Then finally...finally...say goodbye.