cuz it's getting harder & harder to breathe

i was sitting at mirror lake today reading my book & eavesdropping on random peoples' conversations like i do every monday & wednesday [i'm not a psycho, i swear. people just talk really loud.], & today's chosen exchange was particularly interesting. three people, two guys & one girl. one of the boys was/is in the military & was talking about some of his experiences. he was in kuwait, then moved to iraq right when everything was starting; as he put it, 'i saw the beginning of shock & awe.' he had a deep bass voice, calm & sad, a baby face, & a half sleeve of flames & cards. he was older than me, but not by much. he told a story about getting stung by a scorpion...then about trying to fall asleep through sounds of rockets & bombs. i caught myself staring at him because i was so engrossed in what he was saying, & he caught my eye. i'm not sure why, but that short glance just made me that much more angry that boys his age already have the terrible experience of war. that boys his age are being stung by scorpions in the desert & falling asleep to bombing & dying so far from their homes. it's disgusting.