Day 1

Everything has changed. Just in one day, I have been ripped away from my home
and taken to a fortress. I must obey all the commands I receive here. I am Uno,
and this is my journal.

My surroundings are similar and different to my home. Or should I say past
home. I am in a jungle here, just as the village I come from. The big difference
is that I’m trapped here. Though there is a lot of space, that space is enclosed
by a constantly guarded wall. This makes me feel like some kind of animal in
a cage, with no way out.

At night, I have to sleep outside with only a blanket. We are also supplied a
hammock, but there are no trees for me to string it up on, so it is useless. As
I lie here on the ground writing this, rocks dig into my back, and cold seeps
into my bones. I miss the small shack I used to sleep in. However dilapidated
it was, it was still better than this.

I don’t understand both Juan and Esteban. They both believe in the
Revolutionary Army so much. They think they will win the war, and then
everything will be much better. It’s like they have been brain washed.
Both of them handle their guns so smoothly, like they have had them all
their life. They also look down on us new recruits, constantly criticizing us…
Will I become like them? That thought scares me the most. Juan and
Esteban probably used to be like me, however hard that is to believe.
I wonder why and how they became what they are. Whatever the
answer is though, I don’t want to become like them.

My eyelids are closing, so I’m going to finish off this entry. The only
positive experience I have had today is the food. Boy is it good! Tacos
and coffee every day: it’s something I could have only dreamed of. I
guess every cloud has a silver lining.


Image from: http://www.worldrevolution.org/projects/webguide/images/CatPics/ChildSoldierThailand.jpg