The era of peace was over. The time of destruction was near; soon it would collapse to the might of darkness. The sun was almost out, darkness crept the land, hiding the earth as if a massive cowl was placed over it. The ground was barren and the soil, dead. Home, what was it like? Was it beautiful? Or was it always like this? Fenix looked up at the setting sun, sending a streak of eerie red light across the sky. The bodies of dead soldiers littered the ground in front of him. He checked his ammunition and made sure he still had ammunition.” When’s this going to end?” he thought. His right foot had been shot and he could not stand up. As he crawled to a nearby rock, his past flashed in front of him. It had seemed so long when the war broke out. He was still a kid back then, but the incident would forever be encased in his memories. He was five, a normal kid with hazel dark eyes and short messy hair, he was not what he was today, a muscular battle scarred man whose eyes showed no mercy, no compassion to his enemies. Yes, he was an innocent kid back then. As a young boy, Fenix worked with his father at their farm to earn a living, his mother was a house wife and administered herself with the family’s daily needs. Fenix had everything he wanted, a family and a home.
Then it happened. It was all over the news; war had broken out between their country and the neighbouring country. Fenix’s father was the soldier of the old regiment of troops and so, was subject to the country’s will.
“Where are you going dad?” Fenix asked.
“Fenix, you got to stay strong, I am going to be back soon, promise me you will take care of your mother.” He said.
“What did he mean by that?” Fenix wondered. Then he left.
Day by day, the news of their country’s advances and defeats were announced on the news. Fenix and his mother huddled together, watching in fear as the death count increased. As the months grew, the death count was astounding with more people dead than alive, both countries suffered tremendous lost, in terms of economy or military. The people lived in fear as enemy troops bombarded the cities over and over again. Fenix was fifteen, not the jubilant and lively child he once was, but a haggard and tired teenager. One must learn to adapt to survive in these harsh conditions. The war had dragged on for more than ten years and everyday, he saw his friends being taken away to regimentation, and then, joining the army. His mother too, had experienced the full blow of what war caused, physical and emotional damage. She was no longer the young and beautiful mother he once knew, but was now a tired and frail woman, with no hope in life.
One day, Fenix heard a knock at the door while he was eating dinner. He opened the door and to his dread, a soldier stood there with a letter in his hand. Tears welled in his eyes, it could not be, his father would not die, he promised he would be back. As he soaked in the moment of disbelief, his mother came and embraced him. “ I knew it all along, but I just could not believe he was dead……” his mother said. Together mother and child mourned in silence for a home destroyed and a dear member of it gone.
Fenix grew up a strong boy, the war was still on when he was twenty five years old. He lived in the orphanage as his mother had died a few years back when the enemy troops bombed their home land. With a resolution to take revenge, and so he joined the army.
“Son you must be strong….” The words echoed in Fenix’s head.
Fenix leaned against the rock, gasping for air; he raised his rifle and aimed at the enemy troops. A piercing hot object entered him. Fenix Cole collapsed onto the ground, lights flashing in his eyes. Darkness clouded his mind and then, a white light.
“Don’t worry mum, dad, I am coming……”
A few years later the United Nations decided it was time to end this pointless war and make a peace pact. Every year, the people in the countries involved in the war would mourn the lose of their beloved ones. In memory of the men and people who died in the war, a memorial was built. Among the graves, rest three marble tombstones, delicate angels were carved on them, on the stone states,” Here lies Fenix Cole, Tom Cole and Jessica Cole. May they rest in peace together.”
Fenix had finally returned home.
