Sunday, August 21, 2022

Darkness soon returns

‘I served for three years at the front. As a medical assistant. I followed the men into battle and pulled the wounded back to our lines. I witnessed countless deaths. Seen the yellow pallor draw down from the hairline and life leave their eyes. Seen men act inhumanely. There is nothing glorious about war. It is organised savagery. And it never goes away. It scars you for life. There’s no light afterwards, just a dark haunting. We might laugh – suspend our memories for a while – but the darkness soon returns.’ Nina sighs. ‘You lose a much more than friends, comrades.’

 

A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.

1 comment:

Margot Kinberg said...

Oh, that's potent, Rob! I'd guess nothing prepares you for what you see in war, and there's no way it can't change you. Sobering thoughts, and you express them well.