Shattered Skies – Forever In The Sky

Here I sit in the cockpit of a MiG-29 Fulcrum Russian aircraft. Behind me sits another man, or woman. Who can say? They have locked onto my craft, and in just a few seconds, a missile will impact.

It is now that time slows down. The missile barely moves through the air, but I can feel it, hear it, see it coming. There's no escaping it, it's so close. It is for this reason that I am glad I have made peace with my life, and my death.

The clouds are so beautiful. Man once thought they literally were the heavens. You could ascend into the clouds and be content for the rest of your life. I've flown through them so many times it seems as though I've taken the skies themselves for granted.

Who I fight for and who I fight against does not matter. Nothing matters now. My time is running out, even as these thoughts pass through my head. Down below are vast mountains, and beyond the mountains lays fields, and beyond the fields lays towns, and beyond the towns lays cities. Beyond the cities, the world ends. The blackness of space begins, just as it does not too far above my aircraft.

The mountains have never been so beautiful, so tall, so pristine. It is a shame that only in times like these we appreciate every day sights. The blue skies above, the snow peaked mountains below, both are beautiful. Whoever or whatever created them deserves credit. I suppose I'll meet whoever that is soon enough.

My wife will miss me, as will my children. They all knew however, that this day might've come. I can only hope that will provide some comfort to them. I know it will not soften the blow. Now I wonder who will deliver the news to them, if they will cry in front of the messenger, or wait until he is out of sight.

What funeral would I have? The moment the missile collides with my shell, I will be nothing more than smoke and flames. I will be forever in the sky, a memory of what once flew majestically through the clouds, towards the heavens.

Although my loved ones will feel grief, I regret nothing. I have fought for what I believe in, and it seems as though I will be dying for it. I have taken lives myself, both with machine guns and missiles. Weapons do not have hearts, only coldness. This is true for both mine and the enemy.

Enemy is a very loose term. Enemies change with time. There's no such thing as a mortal enemy. There is also no such thing as an immortal. This is especially true at the moment.

Now, I will release the controls, remove my oxygen mask, and lean back. I will close my eyes, and let the flames overtake me. I have spent my time on this Earth, and I will soon find out where the rest of my time will be spent, whether I have been forgiven for the lives I've taken myself, or if it makes no difference.

I will be here, forever in the sky.