It's an odd thing, life.

So much can change without any cause or warning. Some of the best people can have the worst come their way.

Now, Beau was not a perfect person. He had lived a life like many others making many mistakes he would come to regret. However, he did learn and grow from those very mistakes, which he believed made him a better person than most.

At the young age of 14, he had dreamed of becoming an astronaut, like many young boys his age had. The Cold War had ramped up quickly while he was young, and nationalism was strong in his household. Talk of beating those commie bastards was common, and not knowing much more beyond that, Beau was strongly nationalist as well.

Only four years later, he was drafted for the Vietnam War, and of course, Beau was proud and excited to go. How could he not be? To go fight for his country was such an honor. He had dreams of glory through battle and achieved that at times. It wasn't until he had been there a few months that the cracks started to appear. Everyone became the enemy. His friends started to leave injured or dead. Eventually, Beau was surrounded by strangers as allies.

Finally, news came that enemy combatants were hiding among the populations of local villages. The destruction and death he took part in changed Beau. It was almost a relief when his right leg was caught in a hidden trap set by guerilla forces. He lost his leg but was finally able to go back home.

Coming back, Beau was welcomed with honors by his family. His dad for the very first time said, "I'm proud of you, Beau." It almost made it all worthwhile.

He wasn't able to go back to a normal life. He didn't know what that was anymore, especially with one leg gone. He was fired from multiple jobs for being late and rude to customers. Beau didn't remember being an angry person previously, but now the anger came so easily for the smallest of things.

Time went on and Beau joined the Army once more. He had become disillusioned about the greatness of the country itself, but it was a job he understood. They luckily had an opening for an administrative position and the structure that came with a military job was comforting. He still would get angry at times and would often get little to no sleep, but life was getting better.

Betty was her name. The most beautiful woman Beau has ever seen. She was intelligent and witty. Sparks flew between them from the beginning. They were married only a year later.

It was true happiness, something Beau had thought he had lost. They had two beautiful girls, but Beau was getting distant and angry. He kept dreaming he was back in Vietnam, specifically at one village they raided. The shooting started fast and collateral damage was expected, but walking up he saw a young child dead. The haunted look in her lifeless eyes started appearing in his dreams after his first child was born.

It all fell apart when he hit his wife. He didn't realize what was happening at the time. It was almost like reality itself had warped and he was back fighting. His wife had tried to calm him down and he lashed out. She left with the kids soon after. He was devastated but understood why she would leave. He felt horrible about what he had done and was worried he would hurt the kids next. Something wasn't right with him and he wanted to get better.

Sadly, Beau became a shell of a man. He would go to work and go home. Day after day. Years passed by and the nightmares faded away with time along with his anger. He re-connected with his two children. They were growing so fast.

In this way, Beau continued his life. He had found some amount of peace once more.

Beau came down with a cough. It just wouldn't go away and after a few months, he went to see a doctor. It was lung cancer and was progressing fast. He knew this was the end. He spent as much time as possible in his last few months with his two children and Betty. The last month was painful. His body was failing to perform even the most basic of tasks and then, he died.

Now, Beau as he got older became less of a religious man compared to when he was young. It was comforting to think that death was the end. The end of the pain. The end of the suffering he had caused.

Imagine his surprise when he woke up once more.