the poppies blow;

[notachickenhawk]

Sender: Anonymous
To: Everyone
Subject: War

I know this is a difficult subject for some so please move along if it is for you. But for those of you who have been in wars or battles (formal or not) - how do you deal with it after?

At least from my perspective it's not over yet, but... I don't have to fight here. I don't have to be afraid for the lives of myself or those around me. But the blood is still on my hands. The battles I fought still took their toll. Nothing seems to help. I've heard 'time will help' but that doesn't do anything for me now, when I need help.

I don't normally ask for help, but I'm at a loss here.

Comments

Sender: Link

[timesensitive]

Go find something to do that isn't fighting.

[It works for him. Sometimes.]

[notachickenhawk]

How do I find something like that?

[timesensitive]

What do you LIKE to do?

[notachickenhawk]

I used to like to draw. I don't think I'm very good at it anymore, if I ever was any good at it to begin with.

[timesensitive]

Draw for yourself.

If anyone says it's no good, wait until they're asleep and draw on their face.

[notachickenhawk]

I mean he's not in this world but I was definitely too afraid of him at the time to do that.

But I always did draw for myself. I was always a shy kid anyway.

[timesensitive]

[Birb-anon doesn't get a written response right away, just a little doodle. The actual response comes a bit after that.]

Ah, I get that.

Me too. People are hard to talk to.

[notachickenhawk]

Cute.

They can be, yeah. Especially if they have power over you.

... It's only when you step away from them that you realize how much power you can have on your own.

[timesensitive]

I've never really thought too much about that before.

But it makes sense. I know someone who was like that.

[notachickenhawk]

It's scary sometimes... but it's important to figure out.