Sublime

The space between when rage ends and violence begins.

When their lives are on the line, Marines learn to want more than pure, unthinking aggression.

We took my combat pay and did a lot of shopping. Which is how America fights back against the terrorists.

As if mortality is a game with rules where the universe is rational and the God watching over maneuvers us like chess pieces, His fingers deep into the sides of the world.

Eventually, Staff Sergeant would roll up and say, “Shut the fuck up, Suba. Hajji shot at us. Lance Corporal Suba shot back. Dead hajji. That’s the happiest ending you can get outside a Thai massage parlor. Now it’s over. Gunners, be alert, get positive ID, you’ll get your chance.”