That Child

I sobbed looking at the photograph of a 17 year old marine.

Looking in his eyes I saw an innocent child’s façade with baby fat contributing to his baby’s face.

I saw a child with infinite destinies, but this is the one he chose.

I saw naivety in that child because he was unaware of life and the reality of it.

Through his service that child witnessed life.

That child was numbed by its rigors.

That child was at war….

How could someone be so heartless as to send that child to war?

Those child’s eyes were not meant to see what he saw.

That child was not meant to experience what he experienced.

That child was brave because I would not have done it.

Nine years is a lifetime.

The events filling that void that child was not ready to experience.

How did that child survive?

Those events I could not comprehend.

How did he?

How did that child never break?

How did he stay standing?

What was behind those child’s eyes?

How did he make sense of the impossible tasks that he was not ready for?

Those tasks I am not ready for.

That child was brave.

How can that child be filled with so much guilt?

How did that child escape unscathed?

How could that child fight for his life?

How did that child survive?

What gave that child courage?

Who gave that child courage?

What was guiding him? 

Sitting there looking into his eyes I could not recognize that child because I can not even recognize myself.

The unfamiliarity is terrifying. 

Has that child’s resilience been extinguished?

Can that child heal and rediscover innocence?

Can he forgive?

How can I recognize that child?

Looking at that child I see a frightening change.

How did that child handle the inconsistency of life?

Looking at that child I feel pity.

I empathize for that child.

How is that child me?   

by Ronin Sumomo (Viewed 492 times)