I could hear the horrible sound of battle ringing in my ears. At first, it was too overwhelming, as if my ears were bleeding. Guns were firing constantly, planes were crossing overhead, bombs were falling, and grenades were landing all around me. There was only horror, fear, and death. It took me some time for my ears to adjust to the noise. I don't know how long it took, it could have been seconds or hours. But suddenly, my breath was louder than the gunfire, and my footsteps were stronger than the planes. As I looked around me, I saw a fellow soldier lying dead just a few meters to my right. A bullet had pierced his skull, taking away his life. He was young, maybe even younger than me. I would have guessed he was sixteen. The losses were already too great. Women were sent to war, and minors were fighting on the front line. I didn't know him, but I wept for him. He deserved it, just like every soldier. I kneeled and closed his eyelids, giving him a gentle caress and a kiss on ...