Later
He woke to the thick smell of burning oil
Blended with the sweet odor of blood
Covered with the sunburned sand

For a moment everything was okay
Except for the horrors lurking
Out of the corners of his eye

He thought he might be home again
But then the pain from the wound shattered him
Grinding his teeth
His vision went dark for an instant
Then was clear

His gaze moved slowly from the red glistening ruin of his legs
To the broken armored vehicle
A clenched fist burning
Stuck in the broken hatch

He wondered

How did this happen?
Was the mission accomplished?
Had this anguish achieved something?
Before the blackness mercifully removed
All questions.