Children of War
As soon as I got back with the eggs and gruel, I saw Setsuko still laying on the ground, still as a log. She still had the slice of watermelon in her hand. I went to her.
"Setsuko, I got the eggs and gruel." I announced. My sister didn't respond. "Setsuko, didn't you hear what I said? I got the eggs and gruel. And you didn't eat the melon I gave you. Why? You said that it was good." Again, no answer. "Setsuko? Setsuko!" I grabbed her hand, and gasped. No! It can't be! I don't feel a pulse! I looked down at her and tried to shake her awake. "Setsuko! Please, you have to wake up!"
But despite me trying over and over again, it was no use. My sister was dead. My 4-year old baby sister was dead. She died of multrition and it was my fault. I should have seen this coming. I killed my baby sister. I'm the worst big brother in history. I couldn't hold back my tears any longer and just cried. I lost count of how many times I cried during this stupid war.
Why is the world like this? Why are adults so cruel to us? We were just children trying to survive. We didn't ask to be part of this war. We were taught that fighting was bad. We were taught that killing people is bad. Why are adults such hypocrites? Why do they destroy so many lives with no remorse? I'm only fourteen for goodness sake!
We were also taught to hate America, but what if they aren't the enemy? What if no country was the enemy and all of them were just like us, scared for the future and trying to survive this horrible war? We did attack their Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, so I guess I get that we hate them, but why? Why can't they just be like they taught us and learn how to get along? Why can't there be world peace?
Why did our aunt kick us out? She was so nice to Setsuko and I in the beginning and took us in when Mom died, but she suddenly changed and started acting mean and demanding. I don't know why. What did we ever do to her?
That night, I layed with my sister's corpse. Even though I knew she was dead, I never left her side. Tomorrow, I will go out and find a suitable casket for Setsuko. She was a good kid that didn't deserve this. None of us did. She was the best little sister in the world, so she deserved the very best at least.
The next morning, I went out to find the perfect casket for my sister. Japan probably had to sell millions of caskets in this war, all in different sizes. No one is safe in war. Not the old, not the young, not the poor, nor the rich. We all had to pay the price whether we liked it or not. It really wasn't fair. This war has caused so much pain, physical and emotional.
When I got back, I placed my sister's body in the basket, her doll, a candy tin, and a photograph of our father. I then lit up a match and watched as the casket started to burn. As I watched it burn, I silently said farewell to my sister, and apologized for failing her and our parents.
Days later, I layed dying in a train station. I was dying of starvation. Might as well, I killed Setsuko. I don't deserve to live. But I wasn't alone. I saw bodies of dead or dying people. They were all over. The good news is that the war is finally over.
I closed my eyes. Soon it will all be over and my suffering will come to an end. I'm so sorry, Mom and Dad. I tried all that I could to provide for my sister, but it just wasn't good enough. This war was just too much. Your brother and son, Seita, will reunite with you guys soon. I'm coming home, Setsuko and we will reunite and once again, see the fireflies.