the leader
who had to build up
an armor of bravery
inside her
with the pieces
of her broken innocence

the soldier
who had to fight back
the demons of guilt
buried inside
the sullen secrets
of his solitary soul

the warrior
who had to face up
that life might be
the heaviest weight
on her back
besides her own shadow

the conqueror
who had to cry out
his sins long enough
before realizing
that he was guilty
of nothing

the fighter
who had to kill
all the grief
inside her heart
with the sword
hidden in her broken spine