126 days.

126 days, stuck in this warfare. Andrew had seen the unthinkable; deceased bodies, obliterated limbs, the injured pleading for their life. The wails played involuntarily in his head constantly.

He’d tried his best to stay out of the danger zones. But it’s not like there’s anywhere safe as an alternative.

Andrew is all for protecting his country. But by taking another’s life? Somebody that has a family, maybe a wife, kids. It’s just inhumane. He wasn’t built for this. Nobody is.

He’d somehow managed to start dozing off against a tree, not voluntarily, just purely from sleep deprivation.

Though he shot up just as quickly at the sound of somebody’s boots trudging nearby, paired with shaky, painted breaths.

Andrew rose to a crouch, not even breathing as he clutches his M16 rifle in trembling hands.

He didn’t want to take a life, but he’d do it if it meant saving his own...