La Tragédie

Act 5

      Louis left before Marie awoke. He felt bad, but he couldn't bear to say goodbye. Louis knew Marie was going to have a fit when she woke up, but it was for the best. If Louis had to face Marie now, he may never leave. Once Louis reached the meet up point, a rifle was shoved into his arms and he was told to march, so he did. The rifle was heavy and bulky in his thin, frail arms. Numerous times he dropped it out of pure exhaustion. Older soldiers would snicker and whisper amongst themselves.

      "I bet 10 francs he won't last an hour at Ulm."

      "No he won't even last 10 minutes." Louis ignored the soldiers. Now wasn't the time to make friends. Now was the time for survival. A couple of weeks in the military, a letter caught up with Louis while on his way to Austria:

Dear Louis,

Each day is another day that I miss you terribly. I spend most my days inside taking care of the home and of Maman. It is hard work, but you'll be glad to know that the house hasn't fallen apart, yet anyways. Just the other day Maman opened her eyes for the first time in ages! I truly believe that the remedies are working. She asked for you the other day, but I told her you were away for work, which isn't far from the truth. She doesn't need to worry about anything except for getting better. And you'll never believe what happened to me the other day! I met a handsome young boy named Joseph, he's an artist. I think he really fancies me, Louis! Please come home soon, so you can meet him.

Yours truly,

Marie

      Louis' heart filled with joy to find that his family's hardships seemed to be coming to an end. Perhaps soon Louis will be reunited with them. Louis' chest was light as he took in the beautiful autumn day. The wind was crisp, and the song of life surrounded him. Louis took in a deep breath, perhaps war wasn't too bad.

       As soon as Louis had that thought the birds stopped singing and the wind went still. A gunshot tore through the valley. They had arrived. Louis mimicked the soldiers around them. Holding the gun like they did, running forward, and retreating in time with their movements. It became a dance where one wrong step would put a bullet in his heart. While running he almost fell in a hole where a young boy was sitting. They stared at each other for a moment, Louis with his gun at the ready. His finger was tightened around the trigger, but he hesitated. The boy had bright blond hair and blue eyes. He looked nothing like Louis in any shape or form, but Louis still saw himself in his eyes. Young, helpless, and afraid. Somewhere out there, there was a blond Marie pacing back and forth waiting for this boy to come home. If Louis shot now, he could be depriving some family of their brother or son. He couldn't do that, he wasn't a monster. Instead, he slowly crouched down placing his gun in the grass. 

      He did not speak German, but he hoped the boy knew that he was not here to hurt him. Fear, relief, and confusion took turns flashing through the young boy's face. Then, in two quick motions that seemed to take centuries to occur, the boy picked up his gun and put a bullet through Louis' heart. He had no time to react and before he knew it, found himself on the ground in a pool of his own blood. All around him men were running, yelling, dying. No one took notice of the small boy limp on the ground surrounded by bloodstained grass and crimson leaves. He was no more important than the boy still cowering in the hole. He was just another body in the endless sea of casualties and bloodshed.