Trenches.

Such is the structure of a trench.

Spanning from multiple sectors of lines to a simple hole in the ground.

Made up and developed to protect us; shelter us from gunfire and artillery, as well as the enemy's bodies themselves.

Oh, how that description is over-used.

If I had one place that I would hope to never go to again, it would be those hellish trenches, no matter what the place.

Now, you may ask, why I do hate those trenches so.

I'll gladly tell you.

Dead bodies that I once knew. Gas leaking into every inch and corner. Artillery hitting the trench I'm in right smack dab in the center. Going over the top of the trench just to get mowed down with machine-gun fire. Trench raiders. Strafing runs by the enemy. Not to mention one of those bombers can land a million grenades into the hole you call protection if they feel like it.

And they do.

Every time.

At this point, you may be telling me to use the pillboxes instead.

Oh, how I wish I could tell you I'm saying the same damm thing over and over again to myself.

But I force myself to not go into those one-way ticket to hell.

I know that every pillbox we make is going to get blown up on the spot by those artillery guns. Why waste your time going and hiding in a box, waiting for the bombs to follow suit and explode you when you thought you were finally safe? If you ask me, I'd rather not get blown into a million pieces, then get those pieces squished by the massive chunks of concrete that fall from the impact of shells finally reaching their targets, each filled with hate from the enemy and wishes that you and any of your peers die along with it.

Now going back to the topic of trenches.

Why not improve them?

There's no way of improving a trench. Even if our higher ups send more wood to keep the mud at bay, more food to keep our souls from starving, or whatever thing they can improve, it wouldn't matter.

Why improve something you won't hold forever? Have the trench one morning, lose it by noon. Get it back by afternoon, lose it again at mid-night. This cycle of holding trenches keeps on going forever and ever if you're stuck with this job of mine. More and more people unwillingly get caught in the conflict, then suffer from the effects of the constant events that follow along with this circle of death and chaos. It's maddening really, have you ever heard of being shell-shocked? Not a good condition to be. Especially when you're in said state while your commanding officer is threatening to shoot you right in the fore-head if you don't go over the top int he next 15 seconds.

So now you've heard my opinion of trenches.

But you haven't heard the truth.

All trenches aren't used to protect you.

They're used to stall your inevitable death.

So I suggest that you aren't fighting a war when you're currently in one.