Ink & Shadows: The Words of Osiris j Reapor

This morning I had a dream and I woke up crying. Even as I write this, I can’t stop them from flowing. I can’t believe how much time has passed, how much I’ve changed, and how much I miss my old battles. I don’t miss the youth, but the friends—the family I made along the way—will forever be with me, if only in my dreams and memories.

In faded dreams, I’m young once more,
Back in the boots and ACUs we once wore,
Surrounded by the friends I’ve so dearly missed,
Oh, how many times have I wished for this.

Wherever here is, is where they still remain,
Where death has no bearing, and neither does pain.
No, not here in this space,
Where time has stood still and old friends can embrace.

We laugh and we joke, it’s been such a long time,
I want to hear all their stories, I want to tell mine—
Of love and of loss, and my children most of all,
Of the life that I’ve built since I answered the call.

Then my alarm sounds, formation’s near,
My voice rings out, so loud, so clear.
“Fall in!” I command, and they snap to place,
“Welcome home,” they sound off—“we’ve saved you a space.”

A blinding white light, and I wake in tears,
Heartbroken once more by the passing of years.
I don’t miss my youth, but I deeply miss them,
The ones that time stole, but my love won’t condemn.

And though the years may tear at the seams,
They always march beside me, forever in my dreams.