He is mentioned between the lines as someone "who was scared, carrying tranquilizers until he got shot in the head" (2). Fear is a constant emotion within the troop that increases with the death of Ted Lavender. The image of being hit in the head represents the horror between them. Also, going into a deep, dark hole and not knowing whether you will return or not acknowledges the reality you are in. Later in the story, the lieutenant regrets Lavender's death because “he was ashamed. He hated himself” (16). One emotion after another. The agony and the things they carried become heavier and heavier as the story progresses as the Lieutenant recognizes that “…he would have to carry like a stone in his stomach for the rest of the war” (16); a stone that symbolizes emotional load but can also be a physical load. Life is no different. Age advances with risk. Human beings are not immortal gods. We are vulnerable to external dangers and are prey to even the smallest virus on earth. An illness or traumatic event can be what we carry with us. It is a heavy condition emotionally and physically. A stone in the body may be a buildup of calcium in a duct that blocks fluid. This leads to emotional disturbances such as lack of sleep or loss of appetite. It is a path where humans cannot rest and must continue walking with or without emotional support. This physical thing we carry can be constant and permanent. As we age, we become more vulnerable to these diseases, putting a strain on the smooth path we all wish we had to walk. Furthermore, an illness not only brings physical changes, but emotional challenges must also be faced. A stone that affects the anatomy of a human being also affects the cortex of the brain. Electrical signals traveling to the cerebral cortex cause unpleasant emotions. These change the mood of the sufferers. Reality shifts from positive to negative.