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Mercenary Man

I watch him go
The man who has missed the last five years of my childhood
Willingly stepping into a world that could take his life away
Leaving me to care for both myself and my sister
It isn't fair
We need him more than they do

I've said goodbye
Watched him step on a plane heading to Iraq
Time and time again
It's worse than seeing him die
Because the certainty that he'll be gone forever isn't there
I don't know if he'll come back in one piece
Or not at all

I promised myself I won't be there
To see him off the next time he stupidly risks his life for money
The next time he thinks I'm a tough enough girl
To handle the hole he creates in my life
When he goes away

No, I won't be there
I'll be too busy taking care of the things
He runs away from
Is it really so horrible
That he thinks he has to be on the other side of the world?

I need him more than they do

Author notes

"They" is the company my dad works for, if you're confused. I know it sucks but I needed to vent. My dad is thinking about going back to Iraq because money is tight over here. There's a technical term for what he does but most people associate the fact that he's paid a lot of money to go into a war situation with the term "mercenary". But he works for the U.S only. And acts as a body guard for U.S political figures that visit Iraq. His company also always goes in to dangerous situations before the armed forces do and that's what scares me. He has a higher chance of getting killed than they do. Thanks for reading.

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Comments


  • pantress silver member
    February 3, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    Perhaps if you showed him this, like you showed it to us, maybe he would reconsider. People don't always 'listen' when other speak, but when its on paper, they can reread what was said, so as to not miss a word expressed


  • La Tua Cantante
    February 1, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    Liz. I'm so sorry. I really don't want your dad to go back to Iraq. You've been so happy since he's been home, and I don't want to see that go away hun. Really, if there's anything that we can to do help you please don't be afraid to ask. (I know you all to well to know you probably won't but still, you're not as strong as you think you are). Other than that it's a really good write that almost made me cry.