I promised him

I promised

The bombs falling around me remind me where I am. Remind me that I left him.

We were just walking, just getting to our next post. He was laughing next to me, telling me a stupid joke.

Then he was on the ground, choking on his blood. I tried to lunge for him, I tried to get him back to safety. I could see the fear in his eyes. Staring at me while he bled to death.

I couldn’t reach him. Blitz had grabbed me, pulled me behind a barricade. I was feet away. I could hear him gasping.

I promised him we would get home.

I promised him I would protect him. I promised him that if he did go down, I’d send his things back to his ma.

I promised him.

He was six feet away from me, and I was forced to leave his body, still convulsing.