The canyon cracked in half. It all happened so fast. I just remember the Sun, that a bunch of crap flew into my face, and that gravity stopped—or seemed to. Big rocks were suspended mid-air. And everything went black.

I woke up. Again. I smelled burning steak. And gasoline. There was dust in my eyes. All I could see was a black boot attached to a singed knee. I didn’t know whose knee it was. I couldn’t move. I didn’t know where I was. I tried to wipe my eyes. Nope. Nothing moved. Nothing felt right. I think I broke something.

Okay, let’s try this again. I felt with my hand. I moved it to a rock. Yea, I’m pretty sure that’s a rock. I tried to get up. I used my chest. When I did, I felt my lower rib. It was nowhere near where it should be. The pain was… well, everything went black.

I woke up. Take 2. It was dark. I saw light flickering around the canyon. Fire. I think. Still burning steak. I didn’t think I would try moving again. I guess. I guess this is it.

Then I heard rocks stirring. Oh no. My mind instantly went to wolves. Were there wolves in Iraq? Was I still in Iraq? The air felt perfect. I was afraid.

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I laid back, and surrendered. I saw the stars, and smiled. God pulled through after all, or Allah. Whatevs. I saw mom. She was there. Looking at me. It’s like we were together, finally. She made it.

Then I saw the silhouette of a person. Someone was moving around me, somewhere, until they got to me, then they stood above me. I tried to put my hand up, but I heard “Stay down.” It wasn’t English, but I understood it. Ukrainian, maybe.

“Listen, rest. You’re hurt. Actually yoiue super nsfo…” I couldn’t follow her words with that accent. She spoke too fast, or my mind was slow; broken. I opened my mouth and said, “What?”

“Anglish? Speak?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. Ah. You. Ah. Hurt. Bad. Very, very bad hurt. I give you something.” I could hardly see anything, but I heard her boots crunch across the pebbles and the sand.. I closed my eyes. I started to breathe. That hurt too. I felt a water bottle to my lips, and then the water which was the most delicious thing I’d ever tasted. I was so thirsty.

“Drink,” the woman said in Ukrainian—at least that’s what I guessed she said—then she placed pills in my mouth, which I swallowed, along with more water, which dripped down my chin and my shirt and my cheeks. Water mixed with tears.

“Rest. You rest. You feel better.” She rubbed a warm hand on my face. It felt incredible. I wanted Mom. I hoped Mom was alright. I missed her.

In a moment, I felt, better.

“You will sleep soon. I move you. We must go. I take you.”

I opened my eyes and saw her flashlight. Things looked funny. Everything looked like a swirly painting. The light was bright. Then I saw it flash on her.

She was dressed for war. She was stunning.

And before I conked out, I saw it. A great, big sniper rifle.

Whoever she was… she looked like a total badass.