The Dusk of Day's Remains, sonnet Options

[heartsong7]

The Dusk of Day’s Remains

His coming home alive was only half
the battle. Acting like he cared at all
for anyone or thing, to simply laugh,
was hell. Awakened, crouching in the hall,
not knowing where he was or why he should
survive, he raised the gun, and felt the scar
where once had been a cheek; then slowly stood.

By morning he'd retrieved his old guitar,
a scratched-up, string-less wreck he vowed to save.
I watched him recreate an instrument.
As countless hours of renovations gave
him purpose, he was peaceful and content.
He strummed his own renditions. Those refrains
still echo in the dusk of day's remains.

[heartsong7]

Thank you for taking the time to read and offer your insights, Cleo.
re:
"wondered if there is another way to phrase the idea that one of his few joys was playing the instrument (acting like he cared at all) - the 'at all' part seems to be a tad forced there for rhyming sake:"
"the battle. Acting like he cared at all"
This sonnet is divided into 2 stanzas of 7 lines each, which is unusual but acceptable when there is a specific reason for doing so. In this case the turn starts with line 8, and since the first 7 lines address his PTS symptoms and the second 7 are about his recovery, I thought that would be a good division point.
The line about his not caring at all refers to his overall depressed feeling... and does not have to do with the guitar, which at that point has not entered his mind.
I'll fix that end-stop. I'm pretty bad about missing those little details in the midst of several revisions and appreciate your eagle eye.

and thank you too, Steve, for the kind words of understanding.
I hope you are doing well.

Sue