Merciful Hatred
by LateNiteFantasy©
I hear the whirring of the chopper blades
sporadic fire on the ground as
the crew chief shouts a warning.
I could feel the rope burning
through my gloves as I
belayed down full of adrenaline.
I didn’t fear the enemy,
John had my back.
We ran several meters to where
the soldier lie.
I remember seeing the blood
as it dripped from the
camo on his right arm.
I covered him and checked his pulse
to prep him for his return flight.
He clutched my arm hard
and I could see that he was scared.
He whimpered for his mother
afraid he was going to die.
I smiled at him and said
that he’d make it though
the wounds were bad.
In that moment it hit me
that this young kid had been shot
and the senselessness of it all.
We put him on the gurney
and carried him to the chopper where
the PJ on deck strapped him in.
John and I stood beside the deck
smiling down at him and
promised he’d be OK.
He asked why I wasn’t coming along
and I told him there was no room.
The sound of the chopper was defining
as it pitched into the sky and then
silence.
I looked at John and John knew.
We turned and walked a while
searching everywhere for the enemy.
He didn’t hear us coming until I
chambered a round into my weapon.
I could see the fear in his eyes but
I raised my gun anyway and smiled.
I squeezed the trigger in pure hatred.
You will not do this again.
wrote this one day while I was in country...
