a Soldier's Dilemma

Memories?
I can't remember.
Forgotten?
I don't know.
Faces, names, what?
I can't remember.
I don't know.

"Captain, are you alright?" the stern young man asked his superior who struggled to walk a plight of steps towards the bow. "Captain?"

The stern young man tried to help his superior but was shoved with the captain's gentle hand.

"I'm alright, don't bother yourself. It seems, age just sometimes comes up to me when I least expects it," the captain whispered a laugh as he held on the railing. "I'm just getting old."

"Old? You don't look too old, captain."

"Flattery by the young man in front me, it won't improve your position, my good friend" the captain said with a smile. "But thank you for your concern. I'm fine. I guess I just lost my footing."

The captain continued his walk towards the bow and the stern young man followed. The latter was concerned.

"You like the sea, don't you not?" the captain asked.

"Of course, I do, captain. We've been out here almost for all out lives," the stern young man answered. "There are times it's scary but there are times it's gentle. But it is because of the sea that we are able to go to far away places."

"Far away from our love ones?" the captain discreetly remarked. He noticed a glint of sadness in the stern young man's eyes. And the stern young man looked on the horizon, trying both to hide his shame as well as admiring the sea.

"I.." the captain tried speaking. He took a locket on his pocket to look at the time. "The sea separates us from our loved ones, but don't you think it also connects us to them? One day, I will see them once more. I'm sure of it."

The stern young man looked at the captain with respect. He understood him.

"There was this girl in a certain village I met some years past," the stern young man said. "I do not know if she still remembers me, but...-"

"You met or you knew?" the captain interrupted the stern young man. "If you've just met her, I'm sure to her you are no more than just some silly cloud passing by the horizon beyond the ocean. But if you knew her, then I guess, there's no reason to worry. The sea connects us all. You're not just some silly cloud passing by but you are that horizon beyond the ocean. To her, she will always be looking, waiting for that one day, you'll see each other once more. Don't you agree?"

A gentle tear unexpectedly slid down the stern young man's cheek. His captain's words moved him.

"Thank you, captain."

"Thank the ocean. It is what will lead us all to where we want to go."

I can't remember
Forgotten
Memories?
I don't know.
Faces, names, what
I can't remember
I don't know.