Dunkirk 1940

5

   We both look up and see planes closing in again. I started to cry from my own fear. Alex held my chin to make me look at him, "Hold your breath." I calm down and took a deep breath as we both went under the water. 

   The gunshots fell into the water. We went back up with even more oil on our faces. We see a small boat heading our way. Alex made a swim for it. I kept slipping from his arms.

   He stopped to catch his breath, "Here, take the life preserver, I'll swim without it." He takes it off and puts it on me without drowning. I could finally breathe again, calmly at least. I looked behind him, "What about the fire. You'll never make it."

   He holds me tight, "Please promise me, that you'll swim, and don't come back for me if I don't make it." I start to tear up again, "No, Alex. You have to hold onto me." He holds me closer, "Please Emma." I could hear his voice cracking from the pain. 

   I hug him from the neck and nodded my head, "Please make it back Alex." He hugged me again and pushed me off. I started to swim away trying not to look back. My vision was blurry from the tears and stung from the oil.

   I swim straight the boat just out of my reach. People help me up as I sob. I look out and see Alex close to the fire. I yelled, "Wait, there's one man left!" The old man driving the boat ignored me, "Sir, There is still a man out there. Please turn around, he'll drown, or burn to death." The man looks out and notices Alex drowning.

   He turns the boat and drives towards him. He was just out of my reach, the man said, "It's too risky, the boat will catch on fire. You'll have to swim to him." Before he even finished, I went overboard and grabbed a hold of Alex.

   I take him under my arm and swam to the boat. Tommy helps us both get on the boat. Alex wasn't responding. I told everyone to give us some room and to turn around. I tap on Alex's shoulders, "Alex are you there." No response. 

   I quickly started to pump on his chest. I notice he still wasn't breathing. I give him mouth to mouth and started to pump his chest again. I started to tear up making me choke on my own air.

   I was too weak to keep going. My breath was to short. It was to late, I lost him. I cry as I placed my head gently on his chest.

   I was about to give up completely until I heard him cough next to my ear. I sit up and gasp.

   He's alive! 

   He looks at me with weak eyes. He sits up and hugs me, "Thank you" He hugs my from my shoulders and sheds tears of joy. I pull back from the hug. We made eye contact with each other. 

   I could tell everyone was watching, "Kiss her already!" Tommy yelled. We both laughed as we kissed each other. I connect our foreheads ignoring everyone looking at us. We get up and make our way down to the lower deck of the small boat. 

   I notice a boy laying on his back lifeless. A blond haired boy came up to me, "Be careful around him." I check his pulse, I knew this was part of being a doctor.

   I break the news to him, "He's dead mate." He frowns at me. He gets a blanket and covers his body with it. 

   I sit next to Alex as he holds me. I know I will never be the same after this. Alex rubs my shoulders trying to calm me down from my own terrors of the single day.