Set Apart

                 He hugged and kiss her, couldn’t let her go but he has too. Trucks rumbling in the background, boots marching, guns locking. “ I love you,” he said with a still, soft yet brave voice, and he let her go. He got in the truck blew her a kiss and never turned back. She ran after the truck franticly waving, but he never looked back. Her heart felt as if it got reaped out of her. Her neighbours came and comforted her as they each held each other in their arms, their men has left for the battle field, they may return, they may not.

                He wiped his tears as the truck rode off, knowing that she is waving behind, he refused to look back, he didn’t want to make it more difficult than it already is. His heart pierced, wrecked, the pain was unbearable that he had to sit down. Thoughts of her filled his mind, he might never come home, but he is determined too.

                The war, was on, months and years go by. Each day a new battle, it never seem to end, there were times when he felt tired, there were times when he needed a break but they couldn’t afford it. He tried writing to her but they were so remote the letters never got home. They fought well; made their country proud, many were with them many were also lost. But he, he fought on and on.

                Back home months seem to be years, years seem to be decades, the silent and the wait seemed forever. Every day she would rush out in the morning hoping to find a letter or two, but none was to be found. She waited, she cried, she was alone. She struggled, she needed him at her lowest and she wanted to share her highest.

                Years past and the war was ending. Soldiers were sent back, some in boxes, some in bags, some wounded, some less then whole and others complete but wounded within. She waited anxiously, she observed her neighbours. There were trucks driving by, some cried, some fainted, some were screaming hysterically, some and hugged, some were happy and joyful, some were struck down with emotions of lost. But where is he, where is he. Finally, another army truck came by, and stopped in front of her house, she ran out but only to see an officer getting down. I recognise this man, but it feels like I do not know him. He was wounded, scarred but strong and brave.

                He stepped up to her and said “baby I’m home.” She hugged him, he kissed her, all her welled up emotions stream down her cheeks, she never want to let him go. His wounds were fresh but it seemed to heal as she hugged and kiss him. I’m home, I’m home finally, and I’m home.

                I wonder myself why I’m writing this, I wonder myself but I know we modern man do not go to war with guns and tanks but we do go to war with pens and cars, with computers and suits. A wounded soldier, that is what I feel at the end of every day. Going home is like leaving the battle field, the day is done, my battle for the day is done, and she is there waiting for me.

                She has her battles too, she struggles and she fights and she too return wounded. There are days when we sit and patch each other’s wounds up but there are days when we are alone, and there are other days when we find our wounds sour and open, we try to patch each other up but to no avail.

                We fail, I fail, Szu Li I’ve failed you many times, and I’m wounded. The wounds are deep, raw and fresh, but I never give up. I will fight some more, I love you I do. All that I’m doing is for you; I do it simply because I love you, no other reason. I’ve been shot down, stepped on, broken down and you’ve always been there, be there with me, nothing could ever replace that. With you there I can take on the world, with you there I feel a million times stronger. I go out to the fields with my head high; when I come home I’m bare and naked. You see my weaknesses, you see my imperfection, you see my wounds, you see my pain, you feel my hurts, you hear my cries. Battle wounds, fighting for you, fighting for me. Through it all, all I want you to know is that I love you, and nothing could ever change that fact, not your wounds, not your imperfections, not your weaknesses. I love you, I still do and I always will.