What Veterans Want to Feel

by Joshua Strunk

I want to feel.

I want to feel the familiar crunch of the gravel beneath my boots.

I want to feel the desert heat take my breath away.

I want to feel the sweat pouring out of me, drenching me.

I want to feel the weight of my gear pulling me down.

I want to feel the fear of not knowing what my next step brings.

I want to feel the comfort of my weapon in my hands.

I want to feel…  Alive again.

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This first appeared in The Havok Journal on June 10, 2020.