World's Apart
Chanelle Anderlum
The running soldiers through the trenches splashed muddy water up onto Chris’ uniform making him even more dirty and uncomfortable then he already was. Today was a miserable, rainy day out at war. The sky was full of smoke and dust from the previous bombs and gun powder. The smells around him were almost unbearable. What used to be land of fresh green grass has now turned into blood, dust and dirt. Chris was getting used to the idea of constantly being unclean and the terrible stench of dead bodies lying just a few metres away from the trenches. Things that used to only appear in movies to Chris became his reality. Two years ago, three months shy of Chris’ 17th birthday, his parents signed the paperwork for him to join the army, allowing him to leave school early to follow his older brother’s footsteps. He still remembers what it felt like to be enlisted as a soldier. To know that he was going to honour his country and follow in his Brother’s footsteps. It was exciting! He couldn’t wait to get out there. But now, he wished he did otherwise. He wished he stayed in school and got to be a pilot. His dream job. The world he now knew was full of dead bodies, screams and horrific memories.
The running soldiers through the trenches splashed muddy water up onto Chris’ uniform making him even more dirty and uncomfortable then he already was. Today was a miserable, rainy day out at war. The sky was full of smoke and dust from the previous bombs and gun powder. The smells around him were almost unbearable. What used to be land of fresh green grass has now turned into blood, dust and dirt. Chris was getting used to the idea of constantly being unclean and the terrible stench of dead bodies lying just a few metres away from the trenches. Things that used to only appear in movies to Chris became his reality. Two years ago, three months shy of Chris’ 17th birthday, his parents signed the paperwork for him to join the army, allowing him to leave school early to follow his older brother’s footsteps. He still remembers what it felt like to be enlisted as a soldier. To know that he was going to honour his country and follow in his Brother’s footsteps. It was exciting! He couldn’t wait to get out there. But now, he wished he did otherwise. He wished he stayed in school and got to be a pilot. His dream job. The world he now knew was full of dead bodies, screams and horrific memories.
Today was the day that Chris got to take some time on leave and go spend some time back in the so called “normal” world. He struggled immensely to fit back into society, people going about their daily lives not even caring that there are soldiers fighting to their death in this very moment. The fact that these people’s biggest worries were traffic and if they would make it back in time for the footy match, really pissed Chris off. As he got to his house, he was expecting everything to feel normal again. He was going to be around family and familiar smells and noises, but instead nothing felt any different. He still felt, angry, depressed, scared and fragile. The first thing he said to his Dad when he walked through the door was “I overheard two men worrying about the price of fuel when I was walking over here. I just don’t get it. How can people be worried about the price of fuel when there are soldiers on the other side of the world dying, and no one cares!!” His Dad replied, “Because son, this is their world.” This left Chris Speechless, although he understood what his father meant. No one cared.
Today was the day that Chris got to take some time on leave and go spend some time back in the so called “normal” world. He struggled immensely to fit back into society, people going about their daily lives not even caring that there are soldiers fighting to their death in this very moment. The fact that these people’s biggest worries were traffic and if they would make it back in time for the footy match, really pissed Chris off. As he got to his house, he was expecting everything to feel normal again. He was going to be around family and familiar smells and noises, but instead nothing felt any different. He still felt, angry, depressed, scared and fragile. The first thing he said to his Dad when he walked through the door was “I overheard two men worrying about the price of fuel when I was walking over here. I just don’t get it. How can people be worried about the price of fuel when there are soldiers on the other side of the world dying, and no one cares!!” His Dad replied, “Because son, this is their world.” This left Chris Speechless, although he understood what his father meant. No one cared.
A few days passed and Chris mainly tried to keep busy and spend time with his family before returning back to training, to get ready to go back to war. He never thought he’d say this, but he actually wanted to hurry up and get back to war. Being home just made him angry and frustrated. He couldn’t stand being home and acting like everything was fine and that he was home and safe and not have to worry about the war anymore. Because that wasn’t reality. Everyone was going about their daily activities and all Chris could think about was if his friends were even still alive.
A few days passed and Chris mainly tried to keep busy and spend time with his family before returning back to training, to get ready to go back to war. He never thought he’d say this, but he actually wanted to hurry up and get back to war. Being home just made him angry and frustrated. He couldn’t stand being home and acting like everything was fine and that he was home and safe and not have to worry about the war anymore. Because that wasn’t reality. Everyone was going about their daily activities and all Chris could think about was if his friends were even still alive.
Three days passed and he said his goodbyes to his family and retuned to Townsville where his unit was training to go back.
Three days passed and he said his goodbyes to his family and retuned to Townsville where his unit was training to go back.
Two months passed and the intense training took Chris’ mind off a lot of things. He quite enjoyed it. He made plenty of friends and even got promoted to second in charge of a 10- man section. Training was actually a lot of fun and Chris even forgot that he was a part of the war. His mates and him made a bet on who would be the last crew to not get hit by an improvised explosive device. Day and night Chris and his mates trained getting ready to go back to war, becoming more of a small family than strangers on the battlefield. The time finally came when it was their time to take the field. Chris was ready. He was determined to put an end to this war once and for all. He drove in with so much speed and determination that he didn’t even think to look for explosive devices along the way. Hands gripped on the wheel, foot pressed hard on the accelerator, eyes looking straight ahead, Chris drove hard and fast, emotionless, without any worry, until “BOOM.” Chris hit an explosive and got thrown out of his vehicle so fiercely, he ended up 30 metres away from his car.
Two months passed and the intense training took Chris’ mind off a lot of things. He quite enjoyed it. He made plenty of friends and even got promoted to second in charge of a 10- man section. Training was actually a lot of fun and Chris even forgot that he was a part of the war. His mates and him made a bet on who would be the last crew to not get hit by an improvised explosive device. Day and night Chris and his mates trained getting ready to go back to war, becoming more of a small family than strangers on the battlefield. The time finally came when it was their time to take the field. Chris was ready. He was determined to put an end to this war once and for all. He drove in with so much speed and determination that he didn’t even think to look for explosive devices along the way. Hands gripped on the wheel, foot pressed hard on the accelerator, eyes looking straight ahead, Chris drove hard and fast, emotionless, without any worry, until “BOOM.” Chris hit an explosive and got thrown out of his vehicle so fiercely, he ended up 30 metres away from his car.
All he could smell was smoke. He tried to get up but couldn’t move. He couldn’t move his legs. He desperately tried to scream for help but couldn’t manage to get words out. He was in utter shock. He kept trying to move, until he finally gave into his body and all around him went black.
All he could smell was smoke. He tried to get up but couldn’t move. He couldn’t move his legs. He desperately tried to scream for help but couldn’t manage to get words out. He was in utter shock. He kept trying to move, until he finally gave into his body and all around him went black.
He woke up to a white room. Beds with soldiers in them lining the room. He looked to his left and saw a soldier asleep on a chair next to him. He woke him up and asked what happened. The soldier started talking about how Chris hit an explosive and was paralysed from the waist down with a traumatic brain injury 2 days ago, but halfway through, everything fell silent to Chris as he processed what had happened and started crying. He didn’t want to hear it anymore. He knew his career was over. He cried a little more before blacking out for the second time that day.
He woke up to a white room. Beds with soldiers in them lining the room. He looked to his left and saw a soldier asleep on a chair next to him. He woke him up and asked what happened. The soldier started talking about how Chris hit an explosive and was paralysed from the waist down with a traumatic brain injury 2 days ago, but halfway through, everything fell silent to Chris as he processed what had happened and started crying. He didn’t want to hear it anymore. He knew his career was over. He cried a little more before blacking out for the second time that day.
He woke up to a new day. The first thing he did was try to move his toes. He succeeded. He could feel and move his lower body again. The paralysis subsided but Chris was still left with the traumatic brain injury. The helmet saved his life. A few days later, Chris was sent back home to Australia and attended 6 months of speech therapy. He was just about to give up when he got the email addressing that he was fully fit for duties. Only it was ceremonial work, on home soil. Not exactly what Chris signed up for. So, he made the decision to quit the army.
He woke up to a new day. The first thing he did was try to move his toes. He succeeded. He could feel and move his lower body again. The paralysis subsided but Chris was still left with the traumatic brain injury. The helmet saved his life. A few days later, Chris was sent back home to Australia and attended 6 months of speech therapy. He was just about to give up when he got the email addressing that he was fully fit for duties. Only it was ceremonial work, on home soil. Not exactly what Chris signed up for. So, he made the decision to quit the army.
Life was lonely for Chris. He pushed away everyone that loved him. His emotions were the hardest to tame. Everything triggered him, such as loud noises or people having an argument or fighting. This often ended in Chris putting a stop to the situation by fighting them himself. Depression, anxiety and anger were his biggest enemies. He knew there was no real excuse to the way he acted but he couldn’t help how he was feeling.
Life was lonely for Chris. He pushed away everyone that loved him. His emotions were the hardest to tame. Everything triggered him, such as loud noises or people having an argument or fighting. This often ended in Chris putting a stop to the situation by fighting them himself. Depression, anxiety and anger were his biggest enemies. He knew there was no real excuse to the way he acted but he couldn’t help how he was feeling.
Two years passed and everyone had forgotten about the war. Chris often spent his life locked up in his own room. He often played his guitar to take his mind off everything. One day Chris had enough. He didn’t want to live anymore. It was too hard. Too stressful. Too lonely. He went to a high balcony on the top level of his house and was about to jump before his brother grabbed him and pinned him against the wall yelling “No one cares about the war!
Two years passed and everyone had forgotten about the war. Chris often spent his life locked up in his own room. He often played his guitar to take his mind off everything. One day Chris had enough. He didn’t want to live anymore. It was too hard. Too stressful. Too lonely. He went to a high balcony on the top level of his house and was about to jump before his brother grabbed him and pinned him against the wall yelling “No one cares about the war!
No one cares back here! You have a family that loves you and a life to be lived. So put your left foot in front of the other and pick yourself up. Don’t be so stupid!” His mum walked in crying and added, “I gave my two youngest boys to the army, and they still haven’t come back,” and she walked away closing the door behind her.
No one cares back here! You have a family that loves you and a life to be lived. So put your left foot in front of the other and pick yourself up. Don’t be so stupid!” His mum walked in crying and added, “I gave my two youngest boys to the army, and they still haven’t come back,” and she walked away closing the door behind her.
That did it for Chris. His heart ached for his family. He knew they were right. He had the rest of his life to live and he was wasting it. So, he decided to go to psychological therapy.
That did it for Chris. His heart ached for his family. He knew they were right. He had the rest of his life to live and he was wasting it. So, he decided to go to psychological therapy.
It worked, and Chris was dealing with things a lot better. Things still triggered him but instead of dealing with it through violence he simply walked up to the situation and asked politely for them to stop. He spent his days surrounded by family and friends trying to limit as much alone time as he could. ANZAC’s only really get recognised two days a year and Chris wanted to change that. The ANZAC’s deserve so much more respect and recognition
It worked, and Chris was dealing with things a lot better. Things still triggered him but instead of dealing with it through violence he simply walked up to the situation and asked politely for them to stop. He spent his days surrounded by family and friends trying to limit as much alone time as he could. ANZAC’s only really get recognised two days a year and Chris wanted to change that. The ANZAC’s deserve so much more respect and recognition
then just two days, so Chris was determined to make more days like ‘Remembrance Day.’ This kept him busy and always having something to strive for. He knew things would never go back to how they were, but if he learnt one thing from this whole experience, it’s that everything changes. You can go two ways about it. Embrace it, or don’t.
then just two days, so Chris was determined to make more days like ‘Remembrance Day.’ This kept him busy and always having something to strive for. He knew things would never go back to how they were, but if he learnt one thing from this whole experience, it’s that everything changes. You can go two ways about it. Embrace it, or don’t.