Where were they?

Beside his mother, with his eyes closed
he takes his last breath
around him, the walls crumble
as the next bomb explodes-glass shatters
people scream
his mother throws herself upon him
shrieking in fervent prayer
she does not know he has already left this world
for another that isn’t falling apart-

beside his sister, holding her hand
he watches her wipe her eyes
as the shot rings out and they fall to the ground
black gun aims-ready to reshoot
he closes his eyes,
little do they know, he has already left this world for the
one he visits in his mind
where the grass is green, the sun shines
and his parents are still alive

beside the stranger, he shivers with fright
he watches him groan with pleasure
around him nameless photographs
of children, pinned to the wall
a television plays a movie he doesn’t want to watch again
that boy in the movie-
wearing no clothes, crying silently
but little does the man know, he won’t ever be that boy again
he will find his peace, be strong, live again

beside the dead, he throws his gun to the floor
raises his hands to his head and falls to his knees
kicked to the ground-
he sees them clearly, his mind is clear once more
he wished it hadn’t come to this,
he wished he could have let it go-
but then he remembers all the pain
and all the times he pleaded for help
where were they?