Dear wife and Family, 30th May 1916
How have you been? I wanted to say thank you for the care pack. It's a wonderful change from the stale bread which tasted like cardboard. The ANZAC biscuits and bulli beef you sent was delectable. Jealous eyes watched me with every bite. I also viewed the images you had sent me. You look adorable just like an angel. The kids also look like they've grown a lot since I've last seen them. What have you been feeding them?
The war over here has been horrific. All you can here are the sounds of guns BANG! BANG! firing angrily. The smell of waste, the sight of death and the mud make it like a living hell. My mates and I play cricket in the trenches to keep our mind off it. Diseases such as trench foot and dysentery make life a living hell. I stop in aghast once in awhile at the thought of the cruelty that we are up against. Although today was even worse. We were going to assault the "turks". My mate was in the front lines. He hopped out of the trench first like a rabbit, and within a second he was put to sleep. He just laid there, lifeless. The angel he once was...was, no more... I'll miss the bloke. I don't know what I will do without him. This war has to stop, the amount of innocent lives being wasted haunts me every day. I can't even go to sleep, because I know every day could be my last.
I remember the good ole days. The days where you, the kids, and I, sat under the smiling sun. The sounds of birds singing "Tweet Tweet. The scent of fresh air and the delectable pork roast we use to eat. It was so peaceful, life was normal; spending time with the kids and my love. You keep me motivated to keep fighting, day in and day out. Do you still have that golden heart necklace that I gave to you? The one with a photo of you and I in it I still have mine.
I hope this war ends soon. It has felt like i've been here for a thousand years. It's hard to stay nonchalant about all of this. The longer I see the dark skies, the dark ground, and the dark depressing atmosphere the more insane I will go. If I make it back home after the war, I just wanted to let you know that... I may never be the same again. After seeing the death of my best mate I just can't see myself pressing on till the end. I feel like I will develop PTSD. Whatever happens, I just wanted to let you know that I love you and you are always on my mind, till the end. Just stay galvanized to press on even when I'm not around.
YOU ARE READING
A Letter Home From Hell
AcciónA letter in the perspective of a soldier writing home to his family and his wife. Just a short narrative like story. How could I improve the piece of writing. Let me know!
