At 2:00 AM, I slumped against my bed, overwhelmed by exhaustion. Sitting amidst the chaos, the faint glow of my phone screen illuminated my fatigued face. My dishevelled hair, despised smile, and empty green eyes stared back; the mirror holding my flaws within in its glass. The glass glints reminding me of my sister's photo of our carefree past had only reminded me of my potential absence in her happiness. Frustration and despair took over as I flung my phone, its clatter breaking the night's silence. The noise slowly stopped, sinking back to my place drained and engulfed in emptiness, I melded with the darkness.
In a groggy and dishevelled state, I manage to claw myself from the floor. With a clumsy motion, SLAM! The room spins around me. Pain shoots through my shin, and I find myself sprawled on the floor, surrounded by the scattered contents of an old box of junk the colportage of my fall. Clutching onto whatever support I can find; I claw my way up and eventually stumble back onto my bed.
As I settle on the edge of the bed, I notice an old postcard still clinging to my hand. With a sluggish movement, I flip it over, revealing a faded image of a man standing amidst piles of miscellaneous objects on a desolate beach. “Probably just a fun day at the beach, wasn’t life so easy back then” I sighed. My heavy eyelids begin to droop, and as the weariness engulfs me, the world fades into darkness once again.
My eyes open in a haze, and my phone slips from my grasp, thudding onto the ground. The door of my room is gone, replaced by a vast expanse of tents. Overwhelmed, I look around in horror, tears start to stream as the scorching sun bears down on me.
I run through the tents and crash right into a tall burly man.
"What are you doing?"; he demands.
Wiping away tears, I whisper, "I'm lost. I don't know where I am".
"Stop" he barks in frustration. "No turning back. Stand up, soldier". He pulls me to my feet, brushing
off my uniform.
"Get yourself together, get your kit", he orders.
With shaky determination, I nod and reply, "Yes, Sir."
“We are all lost, There's no way back home. Good Luck soldier” His voice echoes my thoughts.
Realizing there is no way home yet, I scurry to the tent hall with worry and dread, everyone looked as if they were from WW2 even himself looking down at his now splotchy green and gray outfit. As I stand in line I look through my pockets finding I only had a pen, the old photo frame and a couple of old tissue scraps that didn’t make the journey well. My eyes narrowed in on the on the photo as I get handed my gear and direction to the tent. Wondering about like a lost puppy, I run into my tent number 72.
At the entrance, I encounter Joe, his tousled hair falling over his forehead. I introduce myself as Tomas, hoping to break the silence. "I'm Joe," he replies, his voice wispy. Curiosity nudges me to inquire further about his presence here. Shocked he asked, "Do you want to know, I mean doesn’t it make things harder when we are sent to battle tomorrow?" his eyes shimmering. I nod, though my conviction wavers. He begins, "My younger brother was conscripted at 16. I, being older, stole the note and now go under his name but that is all I will say about that, but battling countless foes each day becomes harder to face. That is why I am here so they may kill me as cannon fodder". His gaze
drifts, lost in memories. "Letters from my brother keep me fighting. They give me hope and a reason to endure this evil. They give me purpose." I think of my sister and her happiness, whishing to hold
her and hug her.
"Why are you here?" Joe's question breaks the silence, bringing me back to the present moment.
"I don't know" I confess. “better question what were you holding”
“Just a photo” as I dropped it into his lap.
“Wow how did you get this it is a photo of the beach we are going to attack”
“Was that your home? Why do you fight?”
"I have no knowledge of my origin or purpose. I feel like I have nothing to fight for."
Joe's gaze meets mine, understanding shining in his eyes. "Everyone has something to fight for," he assures me softly. "You just haven't discovered it yet."
As the siren blares and darkness engulfs the camp, a heavy silence settles. I find myself beneath the stars, surrounded by fellow soldiers, contemplating tomorrow's battles. The uncertainty of war and the fear of never returning home weigh heavily on my mind.
But amidst the shadows, a spark of realization illuminates within me. I have my sister to fight for, and I have my own future to fight for. For the first time, I grasp the significance of fighting for my own life.
This revelation envelops me like a shroud. Amidst the chaos and despair, I have discovered a glimmer of purpose, a reason to endure the trials that lie ahead. As I lie beneath the vast night sky, I silently vow to wield every ounce of strength I possess to fight for my life.
"Everyone has something to fight for. You just haven't discovered it yet," Joe's words echo in my mind as the siren blares and darkness descends upon the camp, casting an eerie hush.
As the sun rises on the horizon, we embark on boats, racing towards the shoreline. The battlefield looms before us, barricades, guns, tanks, and spikes signalling impending chaos. Beside me, Joe asks, "Do you know what you're fighting for?"
A surge of determination fills me, and I reply, "Yes, I know. Thank you, Joe, for standing by my side. Together, we'll face this battle and, if need be, die for something valiant—a chance at life."
Amidst the enemy's missiles and the chaos, I cling to my newfound purpose, ready to fight for what I believe in. In the midst of explosions and smoke, I take a breath, preparing to face the challenges ahead. With resolute determination and the support of comrades, we press forward, united by our shared purpose and the hope for a better future.
Commanders shout as missiles rain down, creating a symphony of destruction. A neighbouring boat is consumed by flames, scattering remnants across the water. Panic grips me as chaos engulfs the beach.
With grit and determination, I join fellow soldiers storming the shore, gunfire deafening. Waves crash, mingling with the battle's cacophony. The sand beneath my boots turns crimson, and the air fills with the stench of smoke and metal.
Shoulder to shoulder with Joe, we withstand the relentless onslaught. Bullets narrowly miss us, explosions tearing through nearby ranks. Fear's weight is pushed aside as we focus on the mission.
More soldiers join us, unwavering in resolve. Together, we forge a path through, inching closer to the enemy's fortified position. Adrenaline fuels every move as we overcome barricades and dodge obstacles. As we breach their defences, intensity reaches its peak. The clash of metal screams of comrades, and thunderous roar merge into a chaotic symphony. Joe fights by my side, a pillar of strength. BANG suddenly a scream is reached from him dead before he even hit the sand. Blinding rage fuels my determination to avenge him. With renewed fervour, I charge forward, weapon swinging purposefully. Every enemy becomes a target, their lives extinguished by my wrath.
The toll of this blinding rage as I become a target clutching my bleeding shoulder, pain threatens to consume. Fatigue looms, but I refuse to yield. Amidst the chaos, a menacing figure emerges. We engage in a fierce dance of death, each strike carrying the weight of survival. A blow lands upon my head, the world spinning. Darkness encroaches, swallowing me whole as my body collapses.
In that moment, war fades. Thoughts of home and loved ones flood my mind. Consciousness teeters, clarity fleeting. I realize the true meaning of my fight—hope for a better tomorrow. The battle may be lost, but the war for a brighter future rage on.
In a tarpaulin tent, the stench is suffocating as the camera crews capture the aftermath. I search for Joe, passing fallen comrades. Sorrow overwhelms as I find him. Tears blend with saltwater. We gather, united by loss, bonds forged in silence.
The camera flashes, miraculously my wounds heal, Joe's memory etched within me. Purpose fills me. I through my phone to onto my bed as I pin the pitcher to my radiant mirror and walk out the door to my world of peace I intend to fight for.