Seventeen seconds is all I need. Seventeen seconds is what I learned to do. Seventeen seconds and my job will be done. Seventeen seconds of focus. Seventeen seconds of practiced movements. Seventeen seconds separate me and my target. Seventeen seconds to get into position, shoot and leave. Seventeen seconds is all it takes.  All it takes to shoot a man down.
  1
Hidden behind a tree, I took a deep yet silent breath. I had to be quick. I mentally prepared myself for what was about to come. I cleared my head of all thoughts and emotions. It is not thinking about my wife and children that will help me. It is not feeling pity that will help me. No, it is to be an empty shell with one single purpose for seventeen seconds.
  2
Silently, with no brusque movement. My muscles tensed themselves by the effort. First, my upper body bent, then my knees. I pulled myself out from the tree. My eyes were moving everywhere, like a falcon searching for its prey. I should always be sure nobody can see me. The rifle in my arms was totally secure. The weight of the object almost suffocated me. But it was a pleasant feeling. It was almost thrilling.
  3
Firmly but carefully, I bend my left knee to the right. My right leg following, I was gently brought to terra firma. My knees touched the ground in total control. It was strange how a simple task took me months to do without trembling. My legs were sure in their movement. Not a single shake, or forced muscles. Not a single movement of excess.
  4
In no time, I pull myself forward. Slighly bent, I lift my rifle so it was pressed against my torso, my upper body slowly lowering toward the humid ground. Finally, my elbows were firmly set on the soil. The ground was firm, but also soft. It was obvious it had rained during the night.
  5
  6
With a trained movement, I put the rifle on the ground, the end of the barrel strategically posed on the end of the cliff. My hips which  have not yet touched the ground felt heavy. My right hand was close to the trigger so that my index finger was caressing it. My left hand was firmly attached to the barrel.
  7
My stance was stiff, like a rock. I was in such a position to be able to get up quickly in case of emergency. The voices from the transmitter in my ear was foreign. I let my hips fall to the ground, seltting into a more comfortable position. The voices of my eyes told me I was safe to shoot.
  8
My right eye quickly found the scope of the rifle. My pupil didn't take long to adapt to it. I quickly saw the pinpoints in the scope, helping to aim. My left eye closed. I was totally blind but to my rifle. My other eyes were the only ones to make sure I wasn't seen.
  9
  10
Rapidly, I moved the rifle with my left hand. I was frenetically looking for my target. It was a slow movement but in a second, I was able to find him. He was talking to one of his partners. The problem was his wife. She was in front of him, preventing me from taking a safe shoot.
  11
The mission was simple, wait for the house to be circled and kill Kim Jong Un. I was the best male sniper known in security agencies. They called me even though I could have been biased. I'm a North Korean escapee, killing my previous president after all. I would not have accepted three years ago, but the situation called for intervention. Everything else was in control; the last thing to do was for me to kill him.
  12
I inhaled and exhaled. Slowly, filling my lungs with the air needed for my body to function, I did it again. Again and again, until my respiration was regular. Now. The wife took a step forward. It was time.
  13
  14
I put my index on the trigger. I made sure my stance was still. No added movement was allowed. Missing was not an option. It must be a one shoot mission. The transmitter was annoying. Several voices asking if I'm in position and others responding. I never said anything. It was a waste of focus.
  15
I pulled the trigger. In no time, he was down. I had no time to think about it as I was already bringing my rifle back to my torso. At the same time raising my hips so I could lift myself up. Quickly and silently.
  16
  17
On my knees, I took a quick movement forward then backward to lift myself up. I was up in no time and I was already behind the same tree. I breathed. It was done. Finally.