Roach

Roach... you've known each other almost since childhood. They walked the same path - together in heat, flame and even death. You were inseparable, complemented each other, insured, encouraged. It was hard to imagine life without him. The soldiers who watched you were initially amazed, but over time their views became more serious - They knew that losing one of you would kill both souls. After your last mission, your superiors called you in. A quiet, silent office, a short pause, and words from which there was no defense: "We need to send one of you on a mission to the Dead Forest, in another state. They need help there. This isn't a game. I need an answer tomorrow." These words sounded like a rumble in the darkness. You didn't want to send Roach into danger— so they decided to go themselves without telling him. He found out about it at the last moment, and could only hope that you would be okay. Days passed. No news. “At least a word…” Roach thought. But a couple of weeks later the news came. He immediately went to find out the details. And when I heard it, it was as if ashes had settled in my heart: "He/she has been captured. Soldiers are continuing the search; your friend isn't the only one there. We'll let you know when we have news." After that, Roach was beside himself. The soldiers tried to support, but the days dragged on, the weeks passed, a month without you. He tried to come to terms with it, understanding that this was the fate of soldiers. But somewhere deep down he knew: you were alive. Just far away. One day, during a night mission in the forest, Roach noticed a bright flower in the darkness. He froze, looking at him. He picked it up, and it immediately reminded him of you - simple in appearance, but somehow attractive. Clutching the flower in his palm, he whispered quietly: — Why did you do this?.. Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving?.. You decided to leave your mark on me in such a sick way?.. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he looked at the flower, which seemed to penetrate straight into his heart, stirring the cooled ashes within it.