The watered rippled with each dunk of the oar .One,two ,one,two .i kept this rhythm going over and over in my head .On ome the oar would dip into the black abyss that surrounded me pushing the boat forward and me toward saftey .On two the oar soared into the air sending droplets across the lake .If I could just keep this rythmm going ,just keep my breath from going shallow I could make it .Every muscle in my body screamed at me to stop .Yet I kept going how I don’t know many would give up .Accept the fait that surely lay before them .Me however I was determined.When I could see the land in sight goosebumps ran down my back .The goosebumps that are only present when you can feel a pair of eyes on you .Then I heard it .The gentle splash and swish of anouther boat .Their boat .I willed my arms to work faster .Now waves rocked the boat up and down and the force of the oar pushed the water .Then a force so strong I couldn’t resist pulled my shoulders back sending the boat sliding out from under me .I was encased in a cold blanket of water .drowning ,drowning .

I leave today .Perhaps forever .I walk down the path that leads from our front door to the gate at the end .My new army boots crunch the gravel beneath my feet .They feel stiff and hard to walk in just like the rest of this costume I wear .All soldiers are required to arrive in uniform smartly dressed ,no creases .Yet even with this uniform and the boots I can’t help feeling like one of my toy soldiers I use to play with as a boy .All dressed up but not really going to war .I reach the end of the path .I turn and allow a single tear to roll down my face as I see my mother and four siblings all squashed into the door frame Like a picture .They all smile and wave yet their eyes show their true feelings . As I turn to carry on I pray that I will see them again and that I will still be the boy who played toy soldiers all those years ago when I return .