The Veteran
Added 2021-01-26 00:35:21 +0000 UTCIn a field long abandoned, from a war now passed, rests a soldier since forgotten. She watched solemnly over the years as the bodies around her became the food of the flies that became the dirt of the ground that became the soil of the field that became the life of the worms that became the flowers of the meadow. Despite this, she was only seized by the rust of the air, and therefore, she would wait. She remembered how important her existence once was. The men who captained her would speak of their objectives and their urgency. Those that didn’t become the bodies around her pushed onwards, up the hill, never to return to their old vessel. How foolish, she would think, these goals must have been to lead to her current state, a slow decay in an empty pasture.
That is, until one day, children came from the field above. They touched the form of the old fighter and felt her skin, the first to admire her shape in some time. As they plucked the weeds from her tracks and swung from her barrel, she thought, “I guess it was worth it, I guess we won”.
Now the old warrior has a new mission, protecting the family of foxes that live beneath her shell. It may not seem as crucial as her original efforts, but she would disagree. She understands, as those who fought on ahead to have children and children’s children who would one day return to pay respect, that some sacrifices are needed if any are to enjoy a better tomorrow. Just as these soldiers who grew her such a beautiful meadow.
Rest easy, old soul
