title: From a Distance
author: Snave, Elsie
description: Kayson:
  Fighting in a war was easy; I did that every day.  It was the death that came along with winning the fight that was a hard pill to swallow.  Each death had a smell and face.  Those people were someone’s father or sister or friend.  Just like each fight had a face and that’s what was always missing in my fight; a love to fight for.
  Arianna:
  For as long as I can remember I’ve been alone.  No one to tend to my belly aches, no one to kiss my skinned knee and no one to tuck me in.  Sure there was the illusion of parents but they didn’t care.  All they saw when they looked at our family portrait was themselves.  I was always the afterthought, the little girl in corner hiding from the crowd.
  Kayson:
  Ari was everything I needed but never would have fought for in my time of need.  Fight isn’t something you require when dealing with love.  Love should come easy and this felt effortless.  She was my tethered rope when the quicksand of my sorrow was getting to thick.  She was my lifeline.
  Arianna:
  When I met him I didn’t know what he did for a living.  I didn’t care.  All I knew was that there was sadness behind his eyes and I wanted to help heal him.  Kayson was my charity case, my very attractive charity case.  I didn’t know that all I needed was one week in his life to know that he would play such a significant part in mine.  It was one week until his job took him away from me.  Fighting for our country is something I’ve always admired about him.  Kayson was strong, reliable and trustworthy.  He was everything you saw when you thought of the perfect soldier.  But as much as I loved his strength I hated his ability to walk away from me.  Without him I’ve learned how dark our world really is and how lonely one can feel amongst a crowd.
  How was I to manage this life?  A life at a distance with the one person who makes me feel alive.  Who makes me feel like me for the first time in my life?  Who knew we would be fighting the same battle of a different war?