Letters to a Courageous Coward Part 1

January 12, 2018

Dear Soldier,

What's your name? I don't think you'll like me calling you soldier. It's kinda weird. Like it could be anyone, not just you. There's lots of Soldiers...

My name is Emily, but you can call me Em. I don't mind. It's only a name after all. Only a title you'll use until the end then you'll get a new one. I wonder what mine will be...

My doctor said that this would be good for me. Fun too. I think it will. Exciting even to read about what the war is really like not just its righteous or they're brave. I want to hear about the fears the overcomings.

Your suppose to write about what it's like fighting in the war. It scary, right? You must be brave. Or maybe just stupid.

What do you aim for? What are your wishes? Why do you fight? What do you get in return?

I'm suppose to write about my life as well but I don't wanna do that. I don't really like doing what I'm suppose to do. So I'll write my stories instead.

In my stories, my name is something cool. Like Serenity or Grace. I don't like those. They're normal and normal is boring. Those names are black and white and I'd much rather like a name with color.

So my name will be Anarchy, it fits me, my life, my thoughts, just right. Not black and white but a bright crimson red mixed with yellow and orange. Like fire.

Have you ever been scared of anything? I am. But not in my stories, in my stories I am fearless and naive. Because if I knew nothing then I'd have nothing to be afraid of.

I've always associated the words brave and foolish as one of the same. Courageous and naive. A fool. To rush into the unknown without a clue what to do and how to do it.

I wish I was a fool like everyone else. My parents are fools. So are my doctors, nurses, and everyone else that comes into my room. Lucky them, those ignorant fools.

Are you a fool?

Or are you brave?

Till next time,

The Fool.

January 30, 2018

Dear Anarchy,

It would be weird to call me soldier. There's hundred of soldiers but then there's me. I wanna be different than all of them. I'm going to be a hero someday.

My name is Will. Will Lance. Just call me Lance.

My first day is in a week. Finally here in the glorious army. My old man was in the army you know. Fought for years. My destiny was set the moment I was declared a boy.

'That's my boy.' He'd say, 'that's my little soldier'. He'd brag about me to his friends and look at me with pride in his forest green eyes.

Now here I am, earning my badges and making my Dad proud. I made it here after finally getting my diploma from high school. If I can get through that I can get through anything.

The bus is very packed, lots of small town boys trying to be something. But I am going to be something. I'm gonna be someone. It's going to happen someday.

Blank terrain is the training arena. I just want to get to the exciting part. Taking down enemy soldiers and being a hero, you know?

Ma would've wanted this for me too. She's probably up there cheering me on. Just like always. She was beautiful you know, pretty blue eyes and red hair like mine. She always did cheer me on, always will.

There's not much to say just yet. We haven't done much. We signed up and waited for a day or two then we packed up and headed to the bus. We've stopped a few times but not very many.

To answer your question, I'm brave. The bravest of them all. One day I'll go home to Dad and show him all my medals and awards. They'd be saying 'War Hero' and 'Saved us All'!

I just can't wait until I go home and make my father proud. I think pride is the best present any man could earn. Because that's the one thing you can't be given but has to be earned.

I won't say much in my letters to begin with. I haven't got much to say just yet. But I will, just you wait. Just wait after I've earned my glory to take home to my Dad.

Sincerely,

Lance.