This Is How It Ended
I never thought this would ever happen… It was a Saturday morning and I was up bright and early to do my chores around the house when the news was leaked. A telegraph had come in the mail. It was brown with gold rims with stamps covering it like a gallery. The paper had a sign of war, it was rough like sandpaper and it smelt like gun smoke. Thoughts bubbled in my mind like a pot of stew. Thinking of bullets flying in the sky like shooting stars was alarming. Spearing right towards human lives frightened me even more.
I was not mentally nor physically up for this. How could I leave my mother and father? Why am I the one going? What if I don’t come back? These questions circled my mind all weekend as my loved ones are the most important part of my life. They are always there to support me. Being isolated from them I would have no way to contact them to ensure they are safe. Why does it have to be me going to war? It shouldn’t be me as I am the youngest, nineteen. My brother is twenty two at home and not being any help to anyone, whereas I am off studying and making a future for myself. I’m dearly sorry if you ever do read this William but it was just not fair. The thought of me travelling off by myself on Monday going to take place in a violent action made me want to be sick. The last moment of my life could be me standing on muddy grounds in deep trenches. What an unpleasant ending.
Bags waiting at the door ready to leave shattered my heart. Two dark hazelnut horses trotted down the cobblestone street. Their hooves clippity clopping as they veered closer. It was a dismal cloudy grey day. My family stood at the door as I loaded my bags onto the wooden wagon. The goodbyes sent tears streaming down my dull face. A frown was smeared across my face from one side to the other. It was like a rainbow over my chin. I slumbered on the wooden striped seat miserable as ever as we travelled down to the harbour. As waves crashed against the old chunky wharf the ship was awaiting to be boarded. Men all ages from eighteen to forty sat dull-faced, huddled up each by themselves. I managed to find a seat that was by a port window with a little bit of leg room to stretch out. As the motor churned the boat began to slowly start departing. As we got further and further out to sea the waves grew. The ship rolled over them and my tummy began to turn. There was no view to look at that was still out the port window. Waves that were blue and white tipped like frosting hit the ship sides and rocked the boat. It was going to be a long journey.
A few weeks later..
Bang! The alarming sound of gunshots boomed off the hills in the horizon. Each time frightening me. Rain poured down from the thick clouds above us. Creating mud puddles sprawling along the trench surface. As we splashed and stomped through them our boots squelched in the mud slowing us down on attack. A few seconds behind on attack could change everything. I crouched below the trench wall freezing and drenched in my armour uniform ready to shoot. My finger on the trigger pointing in my set direction. The adrenaline kicked in and the one movement of my finger caused a bullet to shoot out. Moving from shooting range one after another a pile of mud sat upon my soldier hat weighing me down. I placed the gun in the mud as I gripped the trigger in my fingertips. Another bullet went flying. Surrounding me in and out of the trenches were people lying dead on the ground covered in blood wounds. Dodging the bullets flying in the air rapidly increased my heart rate. Screeches echoed through the trenches as another one’s life was lost. Voices yelled signals from all directions to put plans into action. “Left South Wing Split and blast!” Life on the battlefield was rough and weary. Days on end fighting long hours starving to death was not the life I was planning on living.
Smoke began to form a haze above us, thickening every stomp. We were no longer able to see and plan the next action. This was vital and everyone began to panic! Shouts yelled for us to take cover! My vision was blurry and distant as the gas filled in the trenches. As I ran as fast as my flimsy legs could, I stumbled in every mud puddle. Deadly bullets soared around me. My heart was beating like a drum, faster than ever. Boom, Boom it went in my chest. I thought it was about to explode. Hands trembling as my legs began to shake. I began to wobble side by side and couldn’t see things straight. My nerves were frozen like ice. I couldn’t think what to do or what was going to happen. A bulky black object came catapulting towards me. My heart sank and I leapt as far as I could crashing to the cold ground. Above me a blasting explosion caused flames to erupt like fireworks. A shrilling noise was then followed… Boom!
By Lily Ashe
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