I could feel a strong urge to cry as I read on and on.
When you spoke about your "girl" as you so fondly called her, all I could imagine was how strong she must have been and how difficult it may have been for her but then like you fought the battles of guns and blood, she fought the battles of heart and mind. Both of which are hard battles to fight.
And am overjoyed that you both made it through.
I consider myself to have a vivid memory, hence I am easily plagued with images of my young past. I tried the forgetting strategy but it never did work. Reading through your piece and realizing that you scaled through by not forgetting because forgetting would be demeaning not just to you and those whom you fought alongside and also to your "girl" who stood by, fighting also. I am determined not to forget too.
I cannot resonate with your sufferings as I am no soldier. I'm just a girl. Yet, it's easy to admit that you have been through a hell lot.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is quite popular amongst veterans and has been the end of some but then I watch through your writing as you have fought hard not to be defeated both at the wars and in the battles that followed after. You are quite extraordinary.
This really got me.
Thank you for sharing @galenkp.
Thanks for taking a read of this fictional story I wrote, and I appreciate your comments and thoughts on PTSD and your and personal comments about your past. I am happy you've taken the time to respond. Thank you.
And I'm glad you've taken the time to write back.
I always write back to valid and relevant comments.