War Times

• Jacintha Huang, Grade 7
• Short Story
• 2019

I gazed around the room and sighed heavily. Life nowadays was just a blur as my dementia has started to sink in. Day after day, my daily routine has always been the same old same old.

I got up reluctantly and headed towards my clustered bathroom, hobbling towards the door. I focused my attention in the mirror where for the last 55 years I had brushed my teeth. A flick of familiarisation sparked my mind. No longer was I an old forgetful man, but I was a soldier.

It was 1915 and I was just 18 years old. My mates and I clambered over the fields trying to get a glimpse of the scene. It was a nightmare. In our camouflage suits, we rushed off to help our fellow soldiers and support them. The battlefield was a mess, dust was flying everywhere and you could hear gunshots fire off right next to you.

A shot fired and it was hurdling towards my friend, Sir Roberts Williamson. I scrambled over and pushed him down. The bullet sliced the man behind him. It was a close call. Out of breath, and quite shocked, he thanked me quickly and moved away.

I grabbed my rifle and ran to the nearest shelter. Something felt wrong. A loud, ferocious, crackling noise hit my ears. Then, there was a sudden pause and nothing was happening. I cleared out the fog and saw a thousand bodies lying on the grass. I glanced at the nurse shelter, there was no one alive. I felt like I was the only one alive. As I was deeply in thought, a cough interrupted me and I started with a jolt.

An old man emerged from the bottom of the hill. His voice was as raspy as the wind. He told me to go away and to never come back. I looked him up and down and noticed that his leg was gone and blood trickled down his other leg. In horror, I just ran.

I didn’t know how far I’d run until I reached an old shack. A fairly large woman appeared, by the looks of her, I knew she was a farmer. She took me inside and cared for me. There, I met her husband, and her little girl Maisy. As I was starting to get to know her, she told me that I would be safe here for now.

The next day, I went back to the war site warily and realised the war was still on. It was the same chaos from the first day. I wanted to stay with the farmers, but I knew that it was my duty to serve in the war.

After some restless hours of fighting, I saw a white flag raise up. At first, I was confused but then It hit my mind that we had won. Everyone started cheering and I felt like I was on top of the world. I closed my eyes inhaling the victory like it was the smell of lavender. It was my favourite scent.

Suddenly, I opened my eyes and I was staring at the mirror. My eyes were wrinkly, my teeth worn out and I was an elderly man once again. I slouched back onto my bed and then I slowly, slowly went to sleep. I knew my times were over.