The Egyptians could run to Egypt, the Syrians into Syria. The only place we could run was into the sea, and before we did that we might as well fight.

-Golda Meir

We stood, stock still, our eyes never leaving their smug faces. They were floating, their weapons by their sides, mocking us, mocking us with their superior expressions. We are the superior beings, earth belongs to us!

“Mummy, do we have to kill them?” My son, 9 years of age but already recruited as a warrior.

“For our freedom…yes.” The tears ran down my face, my thoughts attacking at my sanity. My son, my only child had been given the honor of fighting for human rights but had also been sent on a suicide mission. Would we really stand a chance against those creatures?

“Mother, if you die like father what do I do?” The tears were streaming down his face too.

“You die like a warrior…you give yourself up to death’s hand!” I turned, not wanting him to see my tears. The sea stretched behind me.

“If you can’t take it, walk into the sea.” I tried to sound strong, tried to get rid of the fear but I failed miserably.

“I’ll follow you out of this world if it comes to that mother.”  The lump in my throat lodged itself deeper. My heart ached painfully.
The cure for anything is salt water- sweat, tears or the sea. -Isak Dinesen

She laid there, her face pale, her body lifeless. I closed her eyes gently, praying for her journey into the next world to be a safe one. As a boy who had lost both parents to the war, as a boy who had been brought up in the way of the warrior I raised my dagger. The horse beneath me kicked gently, anxiety clear on his face. I drew a sharp breath, pressing the blade into my neck. I couldn’t do it. My eyes wandered over to the sea, the tears stopped and a smile spread.

I was a coward, yes but the sea washed away all resentment, all pain and brought me peace with it’s cascading waves.

I felt nothing, except the warm water filling my lungs. I fell deeper and deeper into the darkness, I whispered good bye one last time then let the sea wash me into the next life.

Eugh, bad right? But I was making this up as I was going along so…don’t shoot me.

Some other stories by hitsugayatoushiro:

• Elemental challenge-all four in one
• Thoughts in the cloud
• Earths progress
• Oblivion from the sky.
• Broken trust