My Squad Is My Family,

How Many More Times Do We Have To Come To Terms With Death Before We Find Safety?

How Many More Times Do We Have To Come To Terms With Death Before We Find Safety?" He Asked. He Waited A Few Minutes, But The Three Of Us Didn't Say Anything. He Continued: "every Time People Come At Us With The Intention Of Killing Us, I Close My Eyes And Wait For Death. Even Though I Am Still Alive, I Feel Like Each Time I Accept Death, Part Of Me Dies. Very Soon I Will Completely Die And All That Will Be Left Is My Empty Body Walking With You. It Will Be Quieter Than I Am.

Whenever I Speak At The United Nations, Unicef Or Elsewhere To Raise Awareness Of The Continual And Rampant Recruitment Of Children In Wars Around The World, I Come To Realize That I Still Do Not Fully Understand How I Could Have Possibly Survived The Civil War In My Country, Sierra Leone.

I Was Still Hesitant To Let Myself Let Go, Because I Still Believed In The Fragility Of Happiness.

My Squad Is My Family, My Gun Is My Provider, And Protector, And My Rule Is To Kill Or Be Killed.