The Poppy Forest

The mist filled the air, poppies everywhere, swaying in the wind, trees standing tall, silent stream flowing through the poppy forest. Eyes stinging, ears ringing, from the horror that has happened. The horror of war.

Thinking back when I was first deployed from England, I didn’t think I would end up dead 3 months later, especially from a German firing squad.

I heroically tried to save a jewish family from being captured and slowly, brutally murdered. When I had finally got them out of the shoe box size house, the germans had found us, smack I was on the ground, they had hit me, I pleaded and pleaded with the german soldier, he viciously hit me again and again on the back of my head, I dramatically fell forward, I was out, out cold. I can still remember how painful the blow was it felt like I had been shot...

The next minute (at least it felt like a minute) I was in front of a court, they were all speaking german they said “Weißt du wer John Gray ist?” (do you know who John Gray is?)

“Do you know who John Gray is?” Mutters the translator.

“Ich kann Deutsch sprechen” (I can speak German) I shout, “Ich brauche keinen blöden Übersetzer, Oh und nein, ich weiß nicht, wer John Gray ist” (I don't need a stupid translator,oh and no, I do not know who John Gray is).

“Bestraf ihn zu Tode, indem du Trupp feuerst” (punish him to death by firing squad) the german officer yells...

I was in front of a firing squad. “Drei, zwei, eins.” (three, two, one) Bang, I felt a burning sensation on my head as the bullet hit me, it was all over. I was dead.

There was colourful red poppies waiting for me at the end of the road.

The bang of gunshots still scares me to this day, I still feel the pain of the bullet penetrating my head. There was know were to run, but towards death himself.

Looking out at the white mist, I float towards it, I float through the mist and on the other side I am greeted by a beautiful garden. Above me a graceful rainbow, behind me a humongous mansion. I could fit my whole family in it. I quickly look around, looking for my family. A tear runs down my cheek as I remember that I am dead and my children will have to grow up without a father...