Silence of War

During the midst of battle, everything is loud. The shouting of commands. The booming of cannon and gun fire. The whimpers of pain from dying comrades.

But now everything is still. No one dares to talk. Everyone is in their own head and in their own horrors. The enemy is gone, and everyone can relax now.

But no one relaxes. Everyone is still on edge. Maybe the enemy is waiting for us to let our guard down. Maybe the enemy is waiting for the perfect moment.

So we sit and wait. We wait for an attack that may not come. We wait for an opportunity avenge our fallen brothers. No one talks in fear of the possibility of our enemy being just around the corner.

The only sound around is the breaths of the living and nature continuing on as if this is a normal day. Nature doesn’t care about death. Nature only cares about being an inconvenience to humankind.

Night falls and still no sign of the enemy returning. Some men give up and go to sleep. Not me. I know they are still out there. I won’t rest until we win and the enemy is dead.

The enemy doesn’t come for a fortnight. The sun has peaked over the ocean when the first cannon booms. I scramble for my gun and run outside. My brothers in arms are around me. The sounds of cannons and gun fire break the silence that has surrounded the camp.

I aim my gun at the chest of the enemy and fire. My ears ring, and my arms throb. The enemy goes down. I stand up and immediately fall back down. Something has ripped through my chest. Blood slowly spreads across my uniform shirt. The more the blood spreads, the less I can see.

The commander’s shouts turn to whispers. The booming of cannons and gun fire seizes. The whimpers of pain diminishes. The world around me stops.

I see only darkness.

I hear nothing.