I'm the last of many, the last of more than a thousand years going back generations. How am I the last? From what I've been told, traditionally males passed on, down the line, down to me. For a thousand years the many branches have stopped, with no male births. The rest were taken by war. My father was hidden away. He was old enough to go to war. His age was falsified and was moved out of the country. Things could have turned out differently. It could have ended there. A thousand years gone and no one to remember, but then there was me. I was raised away from war in another country, my country. Funny thing though, I became a soldier in a time of strife. I was well off to find myself into a war, though I never made it. I'd like to say I had a knack for what I was being trained to do. I liked it. It felt natural. A couple years later it still does. I could have gone to war. The Army though had their own plans for me. I was to become a face. I thought I was going to war anyway. Well, I was wrong. Instead, I was the last face a family saw before I was commanded to render honors to their loved ones to be buried.

Firing party, attention. (Snap)
Ready. (Sequence Into port arms)1...2...3...4...5...6
Ready! (Remove safety) *click*
Aim... Fire! *Boom!*
Ready. (Rack the weapon) 1...2...3
Aim... Fire! *Boom!*
Ready. 1...2...3
Aim... Fire! *Boom!*
Ready. 1...2...3
PRESENT ARMS! 1...2...3 Present
*Taps is played*
Order arms. 1...2... Cut
PARADE REST!

I'm paid to sit, stand, and do my job. I'm not paid to think. Though there is a lot of time to sit and stand, before and after the job. So what can I do but think. On the job, it's all muscle memory. One moment I'm contemplating the meaning of life. Two moments later, I'm back contemplating. I could be asleep before the job and perform flawlessly because that is what is expected of me.

At this moment, I'm sitting and writing this, thinking of family. I'm expected to produce a son. Though I don't feel ready, I wonder when I ever will be. I tell myself I'll wait in till I'm financially stable enough to support a family. I'll wait in till I find the one. I'll wait to... I don't know... wait. I wonder if I'll be a good father someday, to raise a kid one day. Who will then hopefully raise a kid of their own. One day my family will be proud of them, but most importantly of all, they will one day be someone I'll be proud of. I personally don't care if I have a son. I wouldn't mind a daughter. Doesn't mean I won't try, but tradition, culture, and a thousand years can kiss my ass. It must be my rebellious nature. I get it from my parents who probably got it from theirs. I don't know. I do know that I like to fight and I definitely have a mind of my own. But of course, I don't have a thousand years. Though, if I have an heir maybe I do. In memory and in blood, I'm the last for now.