The first few weeks were harsh, waking up early which isn’t my strong suit, the exercise and trust me the words that spewed from our sergeants mouth would make an angel cry. The unspoken slogan we all learned was to either put up or shut up, do exactly as you’re told when you’re told there were no niceties it was mindless and I liked that,being a machine was something I practiced daily anyways just not in the same way… I needed an exit this was a necessity either a way to live or my way to die.

Friends were not hard to find. Though I was a quiet person we were all in this together we were a team relying on each other was natural to us. Most of the time it was hot, the wind kicked up throwing sand in my eyes all I could see were blurry colors, orange, yellow,and faded brown appeared in between blinks. The equipment I carried felt exaggerated in the heat. “Hey Ray this sand tastes just like the dirt your mom sends” Tommy yells back to Ray

“ yeah, yeah up yours Tommy boy” Ray yells in response. Ray was more serious than Tommy and easily my favorite between my two friends, he often prayed even though he didn’t believe in God. Tommy and Ray were to my left Ray further back than Tommy almost forming a triangular I found Tommy joked too much that’s why Ray occasionally made fun of him , but Tommy had serious moments as well. Sometimes I think Tommy joked to forget that he was here with people who’d kill him in a heartbeat, the sun that blared down on him, joking covered up fear.

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“Michael where was it we said would be perfect to fish?” What? Where did the conversation end up? Dammit I wasn't paying attention.

“Um I think we said Alaska, I hear it's beautiful up there” At this Tommy laughed.

“Beautiful huh? Jeez Michael you sound like a woman”

“Eh? What's wrong with being a woman? You don't like girls Tommy?” I replied jokingly.

“ Yeah anyways if Michael were a woman I think he's the quietest one I've ever-”

Crack! Echoes of a shot rang through the air like a bell, a second, one second was all it took. A spray of warmth hit the sensitive part of my neck. Turning to my left my eyes laid upon Tommy's face, we’d both been walking next to Ray, but since I was farther ahead the blood flecks sprayed the back of my neck whereas Tommy, Tommy's face was clear to see and it's a face I will never forget. His face had Ray’s blood sprayed on it, the coat of blood looked like a bad piece of art, his expression showed a dazed confused stupor, eyes wide mouth agape as if he'd broken a vase and just got caught by his mom. We both looked at each other clueless, but then slowly Tommy's face turned to one of realization.