Book Karma Best Friends

Gunshots echoed through the valley.
Soldiers swarmed down the hill.
The leader - a sergeant.
He looked up.
A familiar face was before him.
His mind was filled with memories
of boys playing football,
picnicking on summer days,
bushwalking, camping,
riding bikes.
Playing soldiers,
pirates, firemen or ninjas,
catching bugs -
games all boys play.
A little older.
Best friends.
School, dates, licence.
And all the time
best friends.
Getting married now.
His best friend -
Best man.
Much later -
He'd been there for him
when his wife died.
He shook his head,
unwilling to think of these things.
That was then.
This is now.
That was peace.
This is war.
He pulled the trigger -
Saw that face twist in pain.
Tears fell
as he watched him die.
His best friend...