Casualties

It comes in, never knocks. A flood fills up my room. I do my best to float : I breathe in, I breathe out.
It ruins the carpets, ruins the shoes, and the cashmere sofas.
It ruins the wooden table and the satin drapes, the books and the photos sitting still near the light.
It ruins my dress and my hair, and oh, it is so cold.
I’m under attack, they re shooting! They said : Burn, drown, and ruin them all.
Our elders told us to breathe deep, said our breath is longer than our enemies’ patience, and Nana used to say: Allow it to take over, allow it to overwhelm.
I have let go and head to shore, my body heavy from exhaustion, my clothes and hair a struggle. Thankful to have found a spot to dry up. Now, I await solace.
A bright green light greets me, and peace is finally declared. My room, still drenched. The ruins, ruined still. The photos and each face smiling, lost. The drapes and the soft hands touching them, the memory of a lifetime so easily erased.
I spot a survivor waving at me from afar. I run to him: Brother, you are not alone!
I’m closer, and the arm was a piece of cloth, stuck to the corpse of someone I don’t know.
A bright light declared something, but peace was left on hold.

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