WAR(yabarna) War! The only thing I thought about, all my life. The only job that bought me glory.
I’m Private Dan Collin. I’m a soldier and it’s all I ever wanted to be. I wanted to protect my friends and fight my countries enemies. I joined the war when I was 20. Now I’m 25 and the war still hasn’t come to an end. Will I have to spend my whole life as a soldier?

During my childhood, I wanted to be like the heroes in cartoons, because that was what I thought being a soldier was all about. As the years went by, I began to realise that they weren’t all true. I read many books about war and soldiers. I researched and investigated. I soon began thinking it was the job everyone wanted. I would be respected and trusted. I felt like everyone believed in me. I was the man who would protect my people. My surroundings made me feel like I was proud to die for my country. My country made war my life!

Every day, I spent my time worrying about my family and friends, wondering if they are alive or not. Shivering to death thinking about what would happen next. Who knows how long I will live for, my life doesn’t depend on me, and it is not controllable anymore. My country controls my life switches. I could die today or tomorrow, I’m not the Dan I used to be. I wish I could go and take my own life back.

I used to live under the laughter of my parents. I enjoyed every minute of life. Had a good education and was an A* student. My parents didn’t want to let me down, they didn’t encourage or discourage me. It was all in my hands, I could live with my parents and get a well-paid job or go to war and kill myself. I didn’t think of it like that, the only thing I knew was I could safe many lives. However, I never thought about the safety of my life or the happiness it contained. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I hope the next generation doesn’t make the same mistakes.

I don’t know what will happen next. This morning I sat down under the shade of the trees, hoping we wouldn’t get attacked. The sun was like a celestial fireball in the sky. Arrows of sunlight hit the golden sand. Between gaps in the branches of the trees, lances of its molten-gold beams splashed on the shining sand. Its beams were scorching the land and sent the nearby lake a-glitter with golden sparkles. As I was starting drowning in happiness thinking about my parent and the good times we’ve had, boom…
Suddenly there was a big noise, which nearly made my ears go deaf. The vehicle which stood in front of the lake had just been attacked by the enemy’s bomb. There was fire and smoke everywhere. The vehicle in front of us turned into a fiery ball of flames. It was not me this time, I had managed to escape, but one of the medics had just died. The enemy fighters were firing at us as we stayed low and fought back. They were hidden behind some trees in camouflaged clothes, which made it hard for us to figure out where the fighters were. Their bullets damaged our vehicles and our soldiers died. I kept firing back with my rifle. The attack seemed like it was going on forever. Then our helicopters came to rescue us. All of us got out. We were saved for today. I had only got scratched on my knee. It hurt bad, I’m happy it didn’t die though. We were getting moved to a safer place.

It is beginning to get dark and there is a cool breeze in the air. The wind is cold and I’m begging to get goose bumps. I escaped today, but who knows what will happen tomorrow. Will I be alive or dead? Wait a minute, I hear something like a home-made bomb. I hear it getting closer and closer every second, noooooooooooooooooooo…….

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