a measurement of loss
a measurement of loss
360 words | 2min
The death of one man is a tragedy. The death of millions is a statistic. - Josef Stalin
a measurement of loss
Taemin loses two brothers to the war.
The first is his real brother, four years older and wiser still. Taemin remembers him as a bumbling figure always a little nervous, a little shy. He never denies anyone his time and has the patience of ten kindergarten teachers combined.
He is the warmest person in Taemin’s life.
(The lifeless hand protruding from the grounded plane has no remnants of warmth.)
The second is his sworn-brother, three years older and surer still. Taemin remembers him as a boisterous voice always strong, always confident. He never cowers in the face of adversity and has convictions sturdier than the earth itself.
He is the strongest person Taemin has ever met.
(But even the strongest man cannot stand against one-point-six tonnes of mechanized metal.)
But Taemin refuses to lose Minho because the war has already taken so much away that Taemin wonders if he will disappear into nothingness if the war takes Minho away too.
Minho turns eighteen that very winter anyways and three days later, he is packing for his deployment.
Taemin begs him to stay, offers to hide him in the attic and asks him aren’t you scared?
Minho tells him no, what kind of coward hides at home when his country needs him and of course I’m scared but there are things in this world for which it is worth fighting.
What, asks Taemin meanly, glory? Are you going to throw your life away for a scrap of ribbon and a chunk of metal on your lapels?
No, answers Minho calmly, the promise of a future where freedom and security are not endangered. Hope for the country. A future for you - for us.
So they sit quietly in each other’s company and wait for dawn to break.
As Minho walks out the door, he turns to say goodbye.
Taemin shakes his head and places a hand over Minho’s mouth; don’t say goodbye - that means forever.
Minho complies and places a kiss atop Taemin’s hair; okay, I’ll see you soon.
Four days later, Minho receives word that his hometown has been bombed; there are no survivors.
And Minho loses Taemin to the war.
360 words | 2min
The death of one man is a tragedy. The death of millions is a statistic. - Josef Stalin
a measurement of loss
Taemin loses two brothers to the war.
The first is his real brother, four years older and wiser still. Taemin remembers him as a bumbling figure always a little nervous, a little shy. He never denies anyone his time and has the patience of ten kindergarten teachers combined.
He is the warmest person in Taemin’s life.
(The lifeless hand protruding from the grounded plane has no remnants of warmth.)
The second is his sworn-brother, three years older and surer still. Taemin remembers him as a boisterous voice always strong, always confident. He never cowers in the face of adversity and has convictions sturdier than the earth itself.
He is the strongest person Taemin has ever met.
(But even the strongest man cannot stand against one-point-six tonnes of mechanized metal.)
But Taemin refuses to lose Minho because the war has already taken so much away that Taemin wonders if he will disappear into nothingness if the war takes Minho away too.
Minho turns eighteen that very winter anyways and three days later, he is packing for his deployment.
Taemin begs him to stay, offers to hide him in the attic and asks him aren’t you scared?
Minho tells him no, what kind of coward hides at home when his country needs him and of course I’m scared but there are things in this world for which it is worth fighting.
What, asks Taemin meanly, glory? Are you going to throw your life away for a scrap of ribbon and a chunk of metal on your lapels?
No, answers Minho calmly, the promise of a future where freedom and security are not endangered. Hope for the country. A future for you - for us.
So they sit quietly in each other’s company and wait for dawn to break.
As Minho walks out the door, he turns to say goodbye.
Taemin shakes his head and places a hand over Minho’s mouth; don’t say goodbye - that means forever.
Minho complies and places a kiss atop Taemin’s hair; okay, I’ll see you soon.
Four days later, Minho receives word that his hometown has been bombed; there are no survivors.
And Minho loses Taemin to the war.