'Why are you so mad? It"s my life. I just want to learn to kill people with my bare hands. Because it"s cool, that"s why.' As the ship sets sail, you salute, and I snap. 'Don"t worry, I"ll be fine. I"ll be out before you know it. I know the armed forces have done some things we shouldn"t be proud of, but it"s only six years.' As the plane carries you away, the cards fall, and I fold. Choices made, decisions carried, policies fleshed out with bodies. These are my brothers, there are many like them, but these ones are mine. Not another folded flag: fifty stars, thirteen stripes, thirteen steps on the last trip home, exchanged for a life thrown away.