He wondered who came up with the idea to make the chess pieces black and white.
Why?
Does black represent the evil that has tainted the world? Are the white pieces the light side, trying to fight back?
He doesn't feel calm, sitting here, playing chess. Usually chess is an escape, a chance to enjoy himself. Chess is one of the things that represents the happy things that he once had.
The time he has to play chess are far and few between.
'What have I become?' he asks himself.
Who am I but a leading warrior in another fight for our nation?
What hope is left when the black pieces have one over the white?
What is one to do when the light side has given away the one step ahead that it has over the dark?
His pieces are dwindling, and so is his hope.
He knows the game is up, when he has no more pieces left to play.
And again, he is the lone king standing in the battleground filled with darkness.