You don’t want to finish the battle?
Someone asked me as I took off my helmet
I sighed
I just want to go home
Bury my weapons
And forget that there was ever a war.
Because they do not have a parade
For the people who do not conquer
I felt like we won
Because we survived.
But parades are not just for the living
But for the triumphant.
I don’t think I deserve a parade for a fight I had to be in.
And one that took away more than my innocence.
It went deep down to strip away my naivete
And in doing so also tore apart some of the great in my spirit.
Until it reached the darkness inside of me.
But when I am home
Maybe I can build a new essence.
If I can find the strength and remembrance.
Maybe.
Hopefully.
Someday.