Malvinas

There is nothing in life that prepares you for something like this, I think as I listen to the thunderous English rifle fire coming from the shore. The bullets are passing just over our heads, whistling a dreadful song as they go by.

I think very few of us registered that we are under attack; two minutes ago one of our own had shot himself. Despite the reprehensibility of the action, I don't believe anyone judged it. Alone at the end of the world, hungry, cold and sleeping in the mud for a week and a half, I am surprised that only he did it, I am also surprised that I am still resisting. Destined to be cannon fodder by the tyrants who sent us here. It really makes me wonder if those bastards even intended to win this stupid war.

Then a splash of blood pulls me out of my thoughts, brings me back to war. Joaquin who was next to me took a bullet straight to the head, instant death. The British are closing in, then I see a soldier drop everything and try to desert... Of course!

“Now! Fire!” I shout seeing the opportunity to use the deserter as a distraction and bring some suppressive fire. Some enemy soldiers fall dead, others drop to the ground and answer our attack. They are still far away, it seems that luckily we don't have to worry about grenades yet. But in the next moment, and after the roar of the impact, I catch a glimpse of artillery ammunition near us.

“Mortars...”

It was all in an instant, a reaper flash, a deafening thunder, and then nothing. All pain, all discomfort I had felt since I arrived seemed to have disappeared. Everything seemed to be gone, surely, I have died. But then I see him, in a world that remains tinted red, my best friend.

“I knew you would come for me...”

"And I knew you'd be waiting for me. Now come on, everything went to shit, we need to go. Just hang in there."

"N-no... go, I'm staying. I can't run anymore, but you can. You have to survive."

“Fuck that! Everyone must live!”

He says as he carries me on his shoulder. I always knew he was an idiot, but he always does the right thing, something I admire about him. But this time it feels like the sun is setting, the clock strikes 12 and I don't feel anything anymore.

“Leo! Leo hang on!”

I think someone is calling me, how annoying, can't you see it's bedtime? I'm so tired. Come on, leave me alone, and I don't want you to wake me up again.