Battle Buddy

I come up the stairs and see him sitting on the top step, head in his hands, crying. I sit down next to him.

He's sobbing uncontrollably, shoulders heaving, gasping for air. Tears and snot drop from his face onto the floor between his feet. I put my arm around him and bury my face in his shoulder.

Another Soldier with his arm in a sling comes and stands next to us.

After a while the sobbing slows, his breathing becomes regular and deep. He's tired.

"Ready to go out for a smoke?", asks the Soldier with the sling. "We can talk."

I look up at him. "You his battle?"

He nods.