Frontline Notes

 This was originally written as a school assignment for an MFA program. The prompt for the assignment was simply to write something in which at least 3 of the senses played an important role in. I remembered from previous psychology classes the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique, so I thought I would use that as the basis for the story. I have also always disliked fireworks, and this feeling was emphasized after seeing a firework show cause flashbacks in a war veteran. Seeing his retraumatization on a day when we were celebrating our freedom and those who fought for it, like him, had a profound effect on me. Additionally, as someone who has worked in prisons, I've encountered many veterans who work in the prison system as well as many veterans who are incarcerated. I've seen the damage many of these individuals have come back with, heard about how their lives were forever changed, and the unfortunate lack of resources to help them deal with the trauma they've experienced.  This story was a culmination of all these factors, and I hope you enjoyed it. As always, I welcome any feedback and/or constructive criticism.