Genre: Adventure

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The war had ended, not that I had anything to do with it. I was fighting too heavily in my own battles to be able to join the one everyone else was fighting in. Mylin was the one that helped me, a small soldier who could barely be any older than 15. He should have been focusing on the battles in front of him, rather than the ones I was dealing with. If he had, he might not have-

No, can't think about that. I shook my head. I had mourned for Mylin enough. Because of him, I was free now. Free of that woman that once had given me everything. I sat on a box, looking around the small room I was in. It wasn't much, just a single room with a bathroom off to one side. Currently it held a couple boxes, a mattress and a suitcase. The suitcase held everything that I had brought with me from the other place: clothes, an old photo album, and the engagement ring that I had bought for her. I had saved two paychecks to buy it and now I had stolen it back, in an attempt to make any sort of money. My head fell naturally into my hands, forehead resting against palms. Where had it all gone wrong?

We had met in college. Three months later we were dating, three years later we were engaged. She graduated before me and so I took a break, to help her achieve her dreams. Maybe I should finally go back now, five years later. It started mentally. She would tell me that she didn't like it when I talked to other girls, even my sister was a threat to her. At first it was cute, a little possessive thing she was. Big blue eyes telling me she was jealous. But after a while she would tell me not even to go out with friends, because she was sure that Rich, someone I had known since I was a tike, was after me. It grew from there. At first I argued with her about it, how could she suspect so much? These people were friends, family, but she kept pushing and I slowly fell into it, never talking to my family or my friends; soon, I didn't have anyone but her. It was all she had ever wanted and for a bit, we were happy.

But then the war started. I wanted to go fight! Help my country! But she wouldn't let me. That night was the first night she hit me. It was a harsh slap across the face. I was in shock for a moment, but I never raised a hand against her in return. I was strong enough to hurt her, but if I had ever done so, I would have never forgiven myself.

And so I ran. It took a while, and she hit me and threw things that caused injury many times, but I finally made it out. The woman that had once been the love of my life was now... a stranger.

A second look around the room showed grimy walls, covered in spiderwebs and a distinct but indescribable smell. This place was awful, but it was mine. For once, something was completely mine. I stood up and opened the suitcase across the room, pulling out the photo album. I flipped through it a bit, photos of my family, me and my sister playing together, her crying because I had stuck a sucker in her hair. I laughed quietly to myself. How could I forget these things. I took a deep breath, the small smile staying on my face. It was a fresh start. Not just for me but for the whole country. The war was over, the battle's won. And it was time for a new beginning. 

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Banner by AverySummers