"I'm making dinner, go have a bath and a proper shave, Sunny," his mother said, her voice warm and welcoming as she walked towards the kitchen.
Sunny nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He was exhausted from his journey, and the thought of a hot bath and a good shave was incredibly appealing.
He made his way to his room, trying to navigate the familiar space with his tired eyes. The room was smaller than he remembered, and the bed seemed narrower. But as he sat down on the bed, he felt a sense of comfort and familiarity wash over him.
He let out a deep sigh of relief, feeling the weight of his journey slowly lifting off his shoulders. He was home, finally. He was safe, and he was with his mother.
Sunny lay back on the bed, closing his eyes and letting the silence of the room wash over him. He could hear the sound of his mother moving around in the kitchen, the clinking of pots and pans as she cooked dinner.
The smell of cooking food wafted into his room, making his stomach growl with hunger.
Sunny stood up, his muscles aching from the long journey. He walked into the bathroom, pulling off his clothes to reveal his lean muscles and pale skin. The mirror above the sink reflected his gaunt face, with dark circles under his eyes and a scattering of stubble on his chin.
But what caught his attention was the long, jagged scar that ran from his forehead down to his chin. It was a knife cut, one that he had received during a particularly brutal skirmish. Sunny's eyes narrowed as he gazed at the scar, remembering the pain and the fear that had accompanied it.
He turned away from the mirror and walked into the shower, turning on the tap to let out a warm gush of water. Sunny stepped under the showerhead, feeling the water wash over him, trying to rinse away the memories of the war.
The warm water stung his scar, but Sunny welcomed the sensation. He felt like he was washing away the dirt and grime of the war, rinsing off the memories of blood and sweat and tears. He stood there for a long time, letting the water cascade down his body, feeling it seep into his bones and soothe his weary muscles.
As the warm water cascaded down his body, Sunny's mind began to wander. He thought about the five long, arduous years he had spent fighting on the front lines. Five years of relentless bloodshed, of endless killing, of friends lost and lives shattered. Five years of watching innocent civilians caught in the crossfire, of seeing women and children reduced to mere statistics.
"I'm so tired," Sunny muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the sound of the water. He felt like he was running on empty, like he had nothing left to give. Five years of war had taken its toll on him, had drained him of his energy and his hope. His eyes felt sunken, his skin pale and clammy. His muscles ached from the constant tension, the constant fear.
As the water continued to pour down on him, Sunny felt a sense of despair wash over him. He thought about all the things he had seen and done during the war, all the lives he had taken and the friends he had lost. He remembered the faces of the enemy, the sound of gunfire and screams, the smell of blood and smoke.
"God wouldn't forgive someone like me anyway," he said, his voice laced with bitterness. He felt like he was beyond redemption, like he had committed too many sins to ever be forgiven. He thought about the countless prayers he had whispered in the dead of night, the countless pleas for forgiveness and mercy.
Sunny stood there for a long time, letting the water wash over him. He felt like he was trying to wash away his sins, to cleanse himself of the blood and the guilt. But he knew it was impossible. The war had changed him, had left its mark on his soul. He was forever tainted by the memories of what he had seen and done.
The water continued to pour down on him, but Sunny barely noticed. He was lost in his thoughts, trapped in a prison of his own guilt and shame. He didn't know how to escape, didn't know how to forgive himself. All he knew was that he had to keep moving forward, no matter how hard it seemed.
The sound of the knock on the door was like a sudden jolt, disrupting Sunny's thoughts and pulling him back to reality. He turned off the tap, feeling a pang of regret as the warm water ceased to flow. He had been enjoying the sensation of the water washing over him, feeling like it was rinsing away some of the guilt and shame that had been weighing on him.
But the voice on the other side of the door was familiar and welcoming, and Sunny couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and relief. "Sunny! Dinner is ready, we're waiting for you!" It was Alex, his cousin, and Sunny felt a surge of affection and gratitude towards him.
Sunny sighed, feeling a twinge of disappointment that his peaceful moment in the shower had been interrupted. But he knew he couldn't stay in there forever, and the prospect of a hot meal was too enticing to resist.
He stepped out of the shower, feeling the cool air envelop him and making him shiver. He reached for a towel and began to dry himself off, feeling a sense of reluctance wash over him. He really had been enjoying the water, and now he felt like he was being pulled away from it too soon.
As he dried himself off, Sunny caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. His eyes looked sunken, his skin pale and clammy. He needed a shave, and his hair was starting to look a bit shaggy. He made a mental note to take care of that later, maybe after dinner.
For now, though, he just pulled on his trousers and headed for the door. He felt a bit rumpled and disheveled, but he knew Alex wouldn't mind. They had grown up together, and Alex was more like a brother to him than a cousin.
As he opened the door and headed out into the hallway, Sunny felt a sense of anticipation building in his stomach. He was hungry, and the prospect of a hot meal was incredibly appealing. He followed the delicious smells wafting from the kitchen, his stomach growling with anticipation.
"Hey, cuz!" Alex called out, as Sunny entered the kitchen. Sunny smiled, feeling a sense of warmth and welcome wash over him. He took a deep breath, letting the delicious smells fill his lungs, and headed over to the table to join Alex and his mom for dinner.