The soldiers made him pull the trigger, bury a bullet in his mother’s forehead, watch his village burn.

Some day, he thought, I’ll kiss a girl and see skyscrapers.

His knees collided with now-sacred ground. He gagged on the ashes of his soul.

Through smoky tears, he prayed. Some day.

Salena Casha’s work has appeared or is forthcoming in Stymie Magazine, Bete Noire, The Quotable, Silver Blade and others. Follow her on twitter @salaylay_c.