Austin Abrams
Ms. Wright
English 113
January 17th, 2012
Vignette
“Can I?”
Smoke filling the air as pieces of steaming shrapnel fell through the evening light around me. All I could think of is what will happen; will I die here, right now, on this battlefield drenched with the bubbling blood of my fellow men and those that stood in our way? Was there a single doubt in my mind that I was going to make it out of this fight alive or making it out with my morality? They say that taking another’s life was okay as long as it was for a good cause, but they also didn’t say whether or not it was possible to do so and also keep what’s left of your humanity.
But there he was, this blood soaked man, from the looks of it not even seventeen years of age lying right there. …right in front of the barrel of my rifle… Was he going to live or die?; a choice that should be left to God himself, but I, myself in these very few moments have the choice in whether or not this mere ‘child’ would be allowed to keep his life or not. For all I know, he was forced into this horrid battle without even realizing what he was fighting for. The innocence of this ‘child’ was being tainted by the desire for war and death.
In these few moments he lay there looking up at me, straight into the very depths of my soul begging for the chance to keep his not long lived life, for another chance. I contemplate whether or not to let this ‘child’ that has taken many lives along with the others that fight alongside him of these men that I have befriended. This life that I will decide within the short centimeters it takes to pull that trigger is someone’s son, their beloved baby. These thoughts rummage around throughout my mind which seemed like hours instead of just the few seconds that it really was. His life is mind to take or give back…
This leaves me with the most important question…Can I?
Ms. Wright
English 113
January 17th, 2012
Vignette
“Can I?”
Smoke filling the air as pieces of steaming shrapnel fell through the evening light around me. All I could think of is what will happen; will I die here, right now, on this battlefield drenched with the bubbling blood of my fellow men and those that stood in our way? Was there a single doubt in my mind that I was going to make it out of this fight alive or making it out with my morality? They say that taking another’s life was okay as long as it was for a good cause, but they also didn’t say whether or not it was possible to do so and also keep what’s left of your humanity.
But there he was, this blood soaked man, from the looks of it not even seventeen years of age lying right there. …right in front of the barrel of my rifle… Was he going to live or die?; a choice that should be left to God himself, but I, myself in these very few moments have the choice in whether or not this mere ‘child’ would be allowed to keep his life or not. For all I know, he was forced into this horrid battle without even realizing what he was fighting for. The innocence of this ‘child’ was being tainted by the desire for war and death.
In these few moments he lay there looking up at me, straight into the very depths of my soul begging for the chance to keep his not long lived life, for another chance. I contemplate whether or not to let this ‘child’ that has taken many lives along with the others that fight alongside him of these men that I have befriended. This life that I will decide within the short centimeters it takes to pull that trigger is someone’s son, their beloved baby. These thoughts rummage around throughout my mind which seemed like hours instead of just the few seconds that it really was. His life is mind to take or give back…
This leaves me with the most important question…Can I?