Compass for Life

No, I never thought of him as an enemy.

He was peace.

The only peace I’ve ever had.

When you come from where we came from, two countries at conflict with each other from the beginning, everything is a battle leading to a Great War to end it all.

The two of us were raised from birth to be the generals to lead armies of millions, ready to waste their lives for nothing.

We never knew what peace was until we met.

It was the best to feel that there was no battle to fight for.

We were both equal in every way imaginable.

It was nice, to say the least.

We promised ourselves that if we couldn’t stop the war and make a truce, we shall never meet again.

Yes, we loved each other very much, but some things are more valuable than love.

It was very naive to think we can accomplish this, but together we felt like a powerhouse, and that the world would hear our cry!

A year passed and we tried to show the rulers and citizens of our countries, begging them to stop this horrible war.

But people do not like change. They’re stuck in their own political views.

It was inevitable, after all.

The thirst for blood of our ancestors was too strong for reason.

We met for the last time, a day before the war.

“We tried”, I said to him with a sigh.

“Good thing we have a plan B”, he answered and then gave me a map with the war plans of his army and a compass.

I handed him a map with the war plans and some arrows.

“Can’t we go together? We can start a new and final peace?” I asked hoping he would say yes.

“We are done. We put up a good fight, but we lost everything we have.”

And with that we said our goodbyes and left forever, never to see each other again.

The day after, I woke up at five in the morning.

An hour before they attack.

I packed everything that was worth a damn and started to run.

I didn’t tell my dad about any of this.

He would rather die than be embarrassed by me.

I ran into the woods watching as my home was catching in flames.

Now I’m here. I’m alive.

At peace with the ground below me and the sky above me.

I don’t battle any more.

And I do it because I want it.

And he would want it too.