Death of Innocence

How do you write about war? How do you tell stories capturing the experiences from, objectively, the most extreme of human experiences? How do you capture the heartache of those waiting for their loved ones to come back? How can you put into words what that type of horror feels like? Forget the strategies and the casualty reports and the headlines. How can you tell people what war feels like to the parties involved? This is an attempt to do just that. Literature is nothing more than an attempt to capture human emotion in a relatable manner. There are many attempts throughout history centered around war. And the fact that there are so many attempts ought to be an indication that it’s an impossible task. But it’s a task that must be attempted regularly. Because if we stop trying to understand how war felt for others, we will all end up experiencing it soon enough.

This story is the story of two remarkable people who represent the tens of thousands who had to face the timeless struggle of one lover going to war. The love between Samuel Parker and Samantha Wallace is as deep as it is innocent. They found love as so many Americans have. In parking lots, strip malls, high school hallways, and ice cream parlors across the country young men and women learn how to love. That is not remarkable. They are upper middle class kids with the brightest of futures ahead of them. That is not remarkable either. But they, like far too many others, are remarkable in regards to the personal struggles of going to war. It is remarkable if any couple can make it out still together. Can their love survive? Can their dreams survive? These are questions that seem trivial when it is not certain if Samuel himself will survive. But one question is not trivial, as it is a challenge that has faced millions before: is there room enough in the relationship for Samuel, Samantha, and the demons that follow him around?