The End of War

A Story by the_gak

She stifled a cry, as the blade struck her right through the heart. The warrior fell, clenching her chest. Dying was painful. Then, it always was. She stared at her opponent with bloodshot eyes, as the battle raged on. He moved on to the next target, assuming her fate was sealed.
This time, it took her two days; two days of wet wounds and parched lips. She lied alone amidst the pile of corpses, stewing in her own blood; hearing the cries of war, the sound of retreat, and the bickering of the birds. Soon they were upon her, only to move on to easier prey when she spat at them. Finally death was upon her. It was a sweet release from the pain; a warm lullaby that put her to sleep. She closed her eyes from the bloodshed and gore, and fell asleep in the darkness.
She woke up, as always �" whole, but incomplete. Death had claimed something from her. She knew it was something important, but couldn’t figure out what. She tried finding what it was her soul missed, not unlike a child tonguing a missing tooth. And just like the innocent child, she gave up the unfruitful task and sat up, scanning her environment.
It was the break of dawn. She was amidst a green hill that smelled of spring. The once bloody battlefield now boasted blossoms of bougainvilleas. Somewhere, a bluebird whistled a melancholic tune. The earth had healed its scars, and replaced it with a paradise. It was a place that had no death or doom; a place where peace had finally found its way.
But she knew.
She knew there would be another offended nobleman; another damsel in distress; another unclaimed land; another movement of religious fanaticism; another bickering between kings. There would always be another war that would find its way to her.

She sat atop the hill with a sword across her lap, as the red dot in the sky glared at her, mocking.

© 2017 the_gak

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Mikael Malmberg

This writing is very deliberate and smooth. You know exactly what you want to say and it shows. Great small piece. I admire the fluidity at which this can be read, where one sentence flows into the next. Striking a balance between short and long sentences. Good work!