Henry Fleming was just a young guy from New York, barely out of his teens. He had big dreams of becoming a hero, and the Civil War seemed like the perfect opportunity to make them come true. So, he decided to join the Union Army, thinking it'd be his ticket to glory.As he was packing up his stuff at the family farm, his mind was like a pinball machine, bouncing from one thought to another. One minute, he'd be lost in this epic daydream, picturing himself as some kind of Greek warrior. You know, like Achilles or something, charging into battle with his sword held high, looking all heroic and stuff. But then, boom!The night before he was supposed to leave, Henry couldn't catch a wink of sleep. He just kept tossing and turning in his bed, like a fish out of water. His mind was racing faster than a runaway train, filled with all these what-ifs. What if he froze up like a statue when the bullets started flying? What if he chickened out and ran away? What if everyone saw right through him and realized he was just a scared kid playing soldier?When morning finally rolled around, feeling like it took forever to get there, his mom came to see him off. Now, Henry's mom wasn't the type for big, dramatic goodbyes. She was more like a no-nonsense, get-things-done kind of woman. Instead of some tearful, movie-style farewell, she just laid out some practical advice. Keep your socks clean, she said, and stay away from troublemakers. It was kind of funny, really.But then she handed him this package of food for the trip, and that's when Henry saw it. Her eyes were all watery, like a dam about to burst. She was trying so hard not to cry, it was almost painful to watch. It hit him then, like a punch to the gut, how real this all was.As Henry walked away from the farm, he felt like he was being pulled apart. One part of him was all puffed up with pride, like a rooster strutting around the barnyard. He was going to be a war hero, after all.The familiar sights of his village started to fade away as he trudged towards the train station. It was like watching his old life disappear in the rearview mirror, getting smaller and smaller until it was just a speck on the horizon. When he finally boarded the train, it was packed tighter than a tin of sardines with other young guys like him, all headed off to war. The energy in the car was electric, almost manic. Everyone was talking and laughing, trying to act tough. But underneath all that bravado, you could practically smell the nervous sweat.As the train pulled out of the station with a loud whistle and a lurch, Henry pressed his face against the window. He watched the countryside roll by, a blur of green fields and sleepy towns. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of person he'd be when he came back - if he came back at all. The war that had seemed so distant and exciting was suddenly very real, and very scary. But there was no turning back now.As the familiar landscape faded into the distance, Henry's stomach churned with a mix of excitement and dread. The train chugged on relentlessly, carrying him closer and closer to his destiny. What would await him at the end of this journey? Would he find the glory he sought, or something far more terrifying? With each passing mile, the reality of war loomed larger, and Henry couldn't shake the feeling that his life was about to change forever.