Dear Nell
A retching emotion stirred in my throat as unease brewed in my stomach, I knew that Jack wasn’t joking. A silence proceeded so deep I could hear the blood coursing through my veins. The lieutenant’s scream pierced my ear drums like a knife, “RUN!” He yelled. But I stopped in tears yanking myself away from the danger, I knew I was to die today. Jack raised his feet high and with a confidence that I admired with great observation he dragged me across the thick mist that rolled over my eye sight hurling me into the middle of hell. Darting in a mad pursuit to follow jack a sickness enveloped me, within seconds I had lost him to the hazy fog that choked my eyes. I swivelled back to the lieutenant marbles of sweat wrapped across his forehead like a plastic head-band. Throwing myself back into No-man’s land I was obliged to clench onto the trigger, smoke coughed out of the weapon puffing into the air. There was no shelter, I had wished I had never enrolled for this and to be back within your sweet, soothing haven.
Tugging vigorously at my helmet mud splattered across my dry skin, I ran head first gulping in my fear through the wall of smoke. I halted a pale frown hung onto my face, I with all acceptance knew what had happened. Was this what death was like? I was suspended in the air my arms flailing as I landed with a thud. Bursting out, an agonising pain echoed from my festering wound. As I fell, I glimpsed a rat swimming with joy; a vivid memory filled me with pleasure , I remember on that one scorching day our faces like hot pokers me and Jack jumped into the pool and taught ourselves to swim, you sat beside on the patio face clung onto with glee. For several hours I sat in that endless memory tears swelling like raindrops rolling across my cheeks. I thought I was in heaven by then. Yet I had not lost hope. Making out one final glimpse the gun smoke had withered and the blue sky showered me with a final appreciation of the joyful life I had been gifted. Jack peering from above the crater he waved to me one last time and set of in the opposite direction. I clambered out the crater, picking my way over the tangle of mud and rocks.
The lieutenant frozen pale, leaning against the wall I lit a cigarette for him and we smoked with a fading pleasure as night dawned upon us over the first day of the battle of the somme. If this letter ever reaches you I hope I see you again in my next life and will cherish my special times with you forever.