“Welcome home Michael!”

“Hello mom!”

“So, how was the first school day? Did you make any new friends?”

“Not really, i met some nice people, but i wouldn’t call them friends.”

“I’m sure you’ll make tons of friends with your charisma, so don’t worry.”

“I’m not so sure, everyone was so serious during lessons. Completely different from my last school. Instead of just goofing off, they paid attention to what the teacher was saying. Not that that is wrong, i’m happy everyone doesn’t just ignore the teacher, but it feels kind of… Cold.”

“It’s probably fine, It was just the first day. First impressions are important, but not everything. Now come here and help me with the food!”

“Okay mom!”

“Take care in school honey! Be careful on the way!”

“I got it mom! Love you!”

“Love you! Oh, and don’t forget to take care of your cousins, allright? Today is their first day.”

“I know! You don’t have to remind me. Take care!”

“Goodbye!”

“Hello Michael. On your way to school?”

“Yes, that’s right. What are you doing, Miss Agatha?”

“I’m just taking little princess on a walk. Ah, I'm sorry I kept you. By now you’re gonna be late if you don’t hurry!”

“Ah, don’t worry. Take care Agatha!”

“You too Michael! And don’t run too fast, you’ll trip!”

“I’m sorry i’m late!”

“It’s fine, just don’t be late again Michael, come in and take a seat.”

“Okay.”

“Now that everyone is here, we can begin the lesson. Today we're gonna…”

“What are you going to do this weekend Michael?”

“This weekend? I don’t know, I think I'm going to the beach. I checked the weather forecast and it’s apparently going to be 30 degrees celsius. I think it’s perfect weather for the beach.”

“Oh, what a coincidence. Me and my friends are also planning on going to the beach, wanna come?”

“Sure, sounds like fun.”

“Thanks for inviting me here Jacob, it was lots of fun. It reminds me of the first time we talked, you invited me to the beach. And now 3 years later, we’re here again, on the same crappy beach.”

“It’s really crappy isn’t it? We had no idea how terrible the beach was. And now we’re here again.”

“What are you gonna do now? We have to enroll in the military soon, and there’s rumors there’s going to be a new war soon.”

“That’s just rumors. We’ll be fine, just like everyone else.”

“I know you’re right, but still. I don’t want to die, not yet. I’m finally truly happy, I have wonderful friends, I'm engaged and I have a wonderful family. I can’t die.”

“As i said before, it’s just rumors. If anyone is gonna survive military service, it’s you. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to call you an athlete. You have straight A’s in every subject and in gymnastics you're beyond the grades. You’ll be fine.”

“I know that. But i can’t help but worry…”

“Welcome new recruits! I will be your military instructor! In the next 6 months I'm gonna train you till you bleed. Then you’re gonna enter the military for 3 years, and then go back to your ordinary lives. Defectors can be executed on the spot. So don’t you even think about defecting, it’s guaranteed death. IS THAT CLEAR!?!?!”

“YES SIR!”

“Good, now let’s begin. Start by running 10 laps around the military camp.”

“um, sir?”

“WHAT IS IT CADET!?!”

“um, i was just wond-

“I CAN’T HEAR YOU! SPEAK UP!

“Um, I WAS WONDERING WHY OUR FIRST EXERCISE IS SO TOUGH SIR! IT’S 20 km AROUND THE CAMP SIR! 10 LAPS IS WAY TOO MUCH!”

"Are you questioning me Cadet!?"

"N-NO sir, i-i was just making sure you were aware."

"Ofcourse i'm aware! This is your first trial, if you can't handle this, you're doomed to die a terrible death. You get 5 days, go now. I will be checking on you on the way, don't dissapoint."

"YES SIR!"

"Now go!"

"Good job Cadets! We only lost 10 of you during these past few months. Now, you will officially enter the military, good luck!"

"Thank you sir!"

"Jacob! JACOB! JACOB ARE YOU OKAY!?! OH GOD, THEY SHOT YOU! No, no, no, no, no, Jacob!"

*Cough, Cough*

"Hi Michael. *Cough, Cough*, i know it looks terrible but i'm fine, i'll get up in a second. Just, just go without me, promise me to survive, okay?"

"Jacob... Ofcourse, i pro-"

BOOM!

*Cough, Cough, Cough*

"Michael, you bastard *cough*, you promised me to live right? don't go dying no-"

"Jacob, no... I promise i'll survive!"

"Yeah mom, i'm fine. You know me, i wouldn't die just because of this. I would return home to you alive even if the world was ending. Hey, tell Alice that i get to go home soon. My service is almost over and i'll finnaly get to see my son. I promise, i'm fine. And, uh, you have to promise not to tell anyone this, but... Jacob died on the battlefield today. I asked to be allowed to give the news. Don't worry, i got this."

"I- I- I'm so sorry ma'm, yo- your son, Jacob, d-died on the battlefield a month ago, he saved my life. I- I'm so very sorry."

"What do you mean our son is dead! You promised me to protect him! Yo- You promised to bring him home you bastard! Why... Why now?"

"I'm so, so sorry."

"Leave! This is your fault!"

"N-No i-"

"LEAVE!"

"... Okay..."

(I'm finnaly going to get home, after 35 seconds, 29 minutes, 15 hours, 2 days, 3 months and 3 years, i'm going home.)

"Ah! Michael! You're finnaly back."

"Ah, Miss Agatha, It's been a while huh. Yes, i'm back now."

"Welcome back. Now hurry up and get home."

"I will."

Michael started sprinting towards his house.

"Um, mister?"

"Ah, What is it little missy?"

"My name is Michael, what's your name?"

"My name is Anne, we don't get visitors often here so i was wondering what you are doing here."

"Ah, i live here. I've just been in the military. I'm on my way home right now."

"I see, um, mister look out for-

"Huh?"

THUD

CRACK

"AHHHHHH!!!"

"Are you alright mister? Mister? Mister! Get out of the way mister!"

(What's going on, my head's spinning, why does it sound like a truck is beside m-)

"AHHHHH!"

"Michael! Don't go crazy now!"

"Jacob?"