At that time, I was Lao Li, who retired at the regimental level. Twenty years of military service have made me accustomed to the test of iron discipline and fire, but it has not made me accustomed to the vagaries of people's hearts.
It was a turbulent time, and the country was in the midst of an eventful time. I, Lao Li, retired due to injury and returned to a peaceful life. And she, my sworn sister, Xiaohua, chose a very different path.
"Lao Li, you said that in this world, we women can't do something?" Xiaohua's eyes flashed with a light that was unwilling to be ordinary.
"Xiaohua, you are the most capable woman I have ever seen, but in this world, there is always a little more restraint on our women. I sighed, the tea in my hand rippling.
That night, we talked for a long time, but we couldn't change each other's determination. She wants to cut off her robe and righteousness to pursue the ideals in her heart.
"Lao Li, from now on, we are passers-by. Xiaohua said resolutely.
"Xiaohua, do you really want to take this step?" I clenched my fists, trying to hold on.
"This is my choice, Lao Li, take care!" she turned to leave, her back resolute.
Soon, I heard that Xiaohua had joined that force and became one of them. My heart hurts like a knife, but I also know that all this is irreparable.
On that day, I was recalled by my superiors with the task of pacifying that force. I am conflicted, but I cannot disobey the military order.
On the battlefield, I saw Xiaohua again. She is no longer the simple woman, but the leader of the team. Her eyes were determined and full of desire to fight.
"Lao Li, I didn't expect us to meet here again. She sneered.
"Xiaohua, do you really want to be my enemy?" my voice trembled.
"It's not up to you and me to decide, Lao Li. Do it!" she brandished the knife in her hand and rushed towards me.
In that battle, we tried our best, but neither of us could defeat the other. Just as we were exhausted, a new force suddenly appeared and surrounded us.
"Lao Li, it seems that we can't leave today. Xiaohua said with a wry smile.
"Xiaohua, it's all my fault, if it weren't for me, you wouldn't have embarked on this road. I said guiltily.
"Lao Li, don't say it, this is my choice. At least, we were once comrades-in-arms, sisters. She smiled, her eyes full of determination.
At that moment, I understood that we cut off our robes and broke our righteousness, but we never cut off the friendship in our hearts. We have walked through the wind and rain together, laughing proudly together, and this friendship has long been deeply rooted in the bone marrow.
"Xiaohua, if there is an afterlife, we will still be sisters!" I held her hand tightly, tears raining down.
"Lao Li, be sisters again in the next life!" she smiled and closed her eyes.
We didn't survive that war. However, our story has been passed down in people's hearts and has become an eternal legend. And that inseparable friendship is like the never-extinguishing flame that illuminates each other's souls.
In the smoke of war, I seemed to see the shadow of our past, it was in the new barracks, the days when we fought side by side. At that time, with a vision for the future and loyalty to the country, we fearlessly walked to the battlefield.
"Lao Li, what are you saying we are working so hard for?" Xiaohua once asked me in the dead of night.
"For the country, for the people, and for the faith in our hearts. I replied firmly.
Today, we are enemies in the midst of this war. I can't help but think that if I had been resolute in keeping her, maybe our fates would have been very different.
Just as we were preparing to fight the enemy to the death, suddenly, the silence of the battlefield was broken by the sound of horses' hooves. When I looked up, I saw a group of men galloping towards me, led by the same division commander I had served.
"Lao Li, Xiaohua, what are you suffering!" the division commander jumped off his horse and said sadly.
"Commander, we just chose what we thought was the right path. I said with a wry smile.
The division commander was silent for a while, and then said, "That's it, that's it, since you have made up your mind, I can only respect it." But in my heart, you will always be my good warriors. ”
At that moment, Xiaohua and I looked at each other and smiled, as if we had returned to that time.
The division commander led us to break out of the encirclement, and the three of us walked side by side, as if we had returned to the appearance of our youth. However, this brief tranquility was finally shattered by reality. The enemy is pouring in, and we are once again in a bitter battle.
"Lao Li, we really can't go this time. Xiaohua gasped, but the knife in her hand was still firm.
"Xiaohua, I can fight side by side with you, my old Li has no regrets in this life. I gritted my teeth and waved the weapon in my hand.
In that battle, we fought in the dark, and until the last moment, we were still clinging to each other. Finally, we collapsed from exhaustion, surrounded by the corpses of the enemy, and we were about to reach the end of our lives.
"Lao Li, in the next life, we will still be sisters. Xiaohua said with a dying breath.
"Xiaohua, in the next life, we will defend the country together. I laughed, tears rolling down my cheeks.
We held each other's hands tightly and closed our eyes. At that moment, I seemed to see the way we were smiling brightly in the sun when we were young.
When the fighting subsides, so does our story. However, in that land, our legends live on forever. People will remember that there are two women who once cut off their robes and cut off their righteousness, but they never cut the friendship in their hearts, and they used their lives to interpret faith and became eternal legends.
On that afternoon when the smoke had not completely cleared, the sun shone through the thick clouds on our cold bodies. Our hands are still clasped tightly, as if we want to keep the warmth of this moment forever. I felt the temperature of the sun, but I no longer had the strength to open my eyes.
Just when I thought it was all over, a familiar shout suddenly sounded in my ears: "Lao Li, Xiaohua, you have to hold on, we are coming!"
I tried to open my eyes, but all I could feel was a shaking. The sound was getting closer, and I seemed to hear the hurried footsteps of the rescue team.
"Quick, there are two warriors here, they're still alive!" a voice shouted excitedly.
Then I felt someone carefully separate us and gently lift us up. I tried to grasp the voice, but found that my hand could not move.
"Lao Li, you have to hold on, we will take you back immediately. "That voice rang in my ears, it was the voice of the division commander.
I nodded slightly, and my consciousness began to blur. Before I lost consciousness, I seemed to hear the faint heartbeat of Xiaohua, the most beautiful sound I had ever heard in my life.
I don't know how long I was unconscious, when I woke up again and found myself lying in an unfamiliar bed. The surroundings were white, and the air smelled of potions.
"Lao Li, you're awake. A familiar voice sounded, it was the voice of the division commander.
I slowly turned my head and saw the concerned gaze of the division commander.
"Where's the little flower?" I struggled to spit out those three words.
The division commander was silent for a while, and then said, "She's in the bed next to you, she's still alive, but weak. ”
I tried to sit up, but I found that I didn't even have the strength to lift my hand. The division commander helped me adjust my posture, and I turned my head and saw the little flower lying next to me. Her face was pale, but she was breathing evenly and looked like she was asleep.
"Commander, how did we survive?" I asked.
The division commander sighed and said, "It was your persistence that moved the heavens, and it was also the rescue team that arrived in time." Your story has spread throughout the army, and you are heroes. ”
I shook my head, smiled and said, "We just did what we were supposed to do." ”
In the days that followed, Xiaohua and I slowly recovered in the hospital. Our beds were next to each other, and we used to chat in the dead of night, about our past, about our future.
"Lao Li, do you think we can return to the battlefield in the future?" Xiaohua suddenly asked me one day.
I shook her hand and said with a smile, "No matter where we are, as long as our hearts are still together, we are sisters on the battlefield." ”
Xiaohua nodded, her eyes shining with determination.
Our bodies are gradually recovering, but the comradeship in our hearts can never be erased. We know that even if the road ahead is full of unknowns, we will be as close as we did that day, and we will move forward fearlessly.
In the days of the hospital, time seems to become slow and quiet. We were housed in a spacious hospital room with lush trees outside the window, and sunlight poured into the room through the gaps in the leaves, adding a touch of life to the white world.
Xiaohua's body is much weaker than mine, she spends most of her time in a deep sleep, and only occasionally wakes up to have a brief conversation with me. Whenever this happens, I hold her hand tightly and tell her about the outside world and how people tell us stories. Her eyes were always full of pride and satisfaction, and it was no regrets about her choice.
The division commander often came to visit us, and his words were full of hope for our future. He told us that the country needs heroes like us, and even if we can't go to war again, we can continue to shine in other areas.
One day, as I was walking in the corridor outside my ward, I came across a familiar figure. That's our old comrade-in-arms, Xiao Zhang. He had a smile on his face and a glint of admiration in his eyes.
"Lao Li, I have heard the story of you and Xiaohua, you are the real heroes. Xiao Zhang said excitedly.
I shook my head, smiled and said, "We just did what we were supposed to do." ”
Xiao Zhang approached me and whispered, "Lao Li, do you know? Since your story spread, the female soldiers in the army have been inspired. They said, "You have proved that women can do great things on the battlefield." ”
I looked out the window, and a warm current welled up in my heart. I remembered the question that Xiaohua had asked me about whether we would ever be back on the battlefield. I think that even if our bodies can no longer bear the cruelty of the battlefield, our spirit and will can inspire more female soldiers to pursue their ideals and contribute to the peace and prosperity of the country.
Back in the ward, I saw Xiaohua awake, staring out the window. I walked over to her bedside and took her hand.
"Little flower, you know what? Our story is an inspiration to a lot of people. I said.
She turned her head, her eyes flashing with hope: "Lao Li, although we can't go to the battlefield, our spirit can inspire more female soldiers to realize their dreams." ”
I nodded, my heart filled with pride. Although we cut off our robes and cut off our righteousness, we never cut off the friendship in our hearts. Our story will forever be passed on in people's hearts and become an inspiring force.
Over time, our body gradually recovers. Although we can no longer charge forward as before, our hearts still burn with love for our country and people. We decided to continue our mission in the hospital, using our own experiences to encourage the wounded fighters and give them the courage and hope to regain their lives.
We became volunteers in the hospital, shuttling between wards every day, using our stories to warm the wounded hearts. Our actions have touched more people, and even the division commander is proud of us.
In this way, we spent many days in the hospital. We are no longer warriors on the battlefield, but we continue to fight in another way, using our stories to ignite the flame of hope and brighten the lives of others. Our story has been passed down in people's hearts and has become an eternal legend.