Being a soldier is hard.
It’s difficult leaving all the luxuries and comfort
to fight the same species.

Someone once said they fight
not to defeat the enemies,
but to protect the people they left behind at home.

Being a soldier means death is your constant visitor,
always lurking,
waiting for the moment they step on its net.

Seeing people fight
till they welcome death with open hands
is hard.

But what is harder
is knowing you may be one of them,
and instead of returning home with waving flags,
one may be returned wrapped in them—
not only because of their sacrifices,
but also because of their courage.

I salute all the soldiers of all countries,
defending their people
and fighting death
to return to their loved ones.