I can still remember my first love, the time when I first met him, the first time I starred at his blue eyes, the feeling of his warm hug, and the taste of his lips. That was more than 60 years ago and now I am reminiscing the memories from before. I almost forgot, my name is Bella Ames, and this is my narration of my love story during the war.
I grew up in the City of Love, Paris, France. I am just an average woman working really hard not just for me but also for my family. I was called in our town as "The Little Heroine" not because I was brave or anything but I was always prepared for any incident that may occur. I was also the talk of the town but even though I was prepared for anything, I wasn't prepared for what was about to happen.
Thinking it was just an ordinary day but my deep slumber was disrupted by younger brother shaking my body for me to wake up, then I heard sirens outside of our house. I immediately put my coat on and see what was about to happen. I went out of my room but I was greeted by my father and younger brother packing some of our things. "Papa, what is going on? Why are you packing all of our things?" He didn't answer me but instead, "A war broke out and our town is affected, we must evacuate immediately. Pack your things now dear, hurry!" My mother informed me with her voice still trembling. My heart started to feel nervousness, and I can feel the pressure of time upon me.
We were all set and ready to move out of our house when we hear loud knocks at our door. "Help Bella, please help me!" A person at the other side of the door pleading for help, I immediately opened our door and I was shocked on what I saw, one of my closest friends, his hand wounded. My instincts kick in and I quickly grabbed my kit and looked for some bandages, tape and antiseptic. "What happened?" I asked while cleaning his wound and I can feel his hands trembling as I asked. "The soldiers, they're taking a family member as a recruit for the war. I tried taking my father's place but they just shoved me roughly. I was too late, I should've taken his place. He shouldn't be going to face the war." He said and I can see his tears welling up and his shoulders dropped. I can feel the regret and disappointed heart in his words.
My family stood in line with the others and I can see other families trembling in fear. When all of us are ready to evacuate, an explosion was heard from afar. All of us shocked and fear immediately took over our minds. But my brother was looking at the sky and all of us were even more afraid for we saw, war planes dropping bombs everywhere and we already felt that the next target was here. Blood rushed in our veins and fear set up in our hearts, everyone started running everywhere causing a stampede. I was holding my younger brother's and my mother's hand tightly but because of the stampede, our hands slipped causing me to be separated from them. I cried out loud for I was afraid on what was happening but someone grabbed me and carried me into an underground shelter. Only a few people were there, mostly soldiers and nurses. But I was afraid for my family was still out there, they can be a target of the bomb. What should I do?!
I was struggling my way out to help my family but they stopped me for they knew that the bomb may come any second. "Please let me out my family is still out there. Please let me through!" I was already crying but still they wouldn't let me out then the unthinkable did happen. I have heard it loud and clear, the bomb was already dropped and it already affected many lives. "NO!!" It was too late; the bomb had already been dropped. We felt the impact from the inside. I cannot help myself but to cry and let all my pain out. They're gone; my family is gone. All of us at the underground shelter desperately crying, all of us sharing the same pain as to what has happened.
I was only 23 years old when my family was affected by the bomb droppings in my country. My whole family lost their lives and now here I am, struggling to survive. I have nowhere else to go, hungry, my arms and my entire face covered with smoke, my elbows covered in wounds. What should I do?! I need a job for me to survive. I was hired at the nursing station, helping soldiers, families and children. Just like in my town before, I can still remember the memories. We have been helping out families, and soldiers that have been wounded. Some of them survived and some didn't. Being in the nursing station and seeing the reality of war right before my eyes is heart breaking. Where is the love that we have been longing for? I was busy helping out a few wounded children when the unexpected happen. A group of soldiers rushing in carrying some of their fellow men, some of them severely wounded and some were bleeding, but the most severe one was actually shot at his chest. They were all panicking and some were even worried for their fellow soldier, then I saw one man painfully massaging his hand then there I saw that his hand was bleeding. I immediately went to him and asked, "Pardonne-moi monsieur but your hand is bleeding please let me help you." He only nodded and I guided him towards my table as the first aid kit was prepared. He followed me to my station to clean his wound. I can sense that his hand was sliced with a pocket knife.
