Terrible Beauty

A Drabble (exactly 100 words) about Vietnam

Once there was a pretty place called South Vietnam, with tropical breezes and sandy ocean shores and happy people. For many, it was a paradise. Resort hotels lined beaches, tourists roamed dirt streets of ancient cities, and people went about their days in peace.

But every silver lining has its cloud. And for many years, clouds of smoke and gunfire and napalm and maiming and death swallowed the beauty, thanks in part to some not so nice people from North Vietnam.

Years later, North and South Vietnam are just Vietnam. And once again, people are happy.

But at what cost?