Will

Looking out of the window he peered at the cobblestones below him. Full of grime and dirt, just like the rest of the city. The stench of death, grief and loss were too much for him to handle. His leg ached along with his heart.1

He could hear his mother crying in the next room, trying to stifle her tears and anguish. It never worked. Inside her frail, old body she held too much hurt and too much regret. She wished it was him, he knew it. She wished he had taken his brothers place. Then he would still be here and he, himself would not.2

She howled louder this time unable to stop. All of them gone. Except him. Him. Why him? He was evil, spawn of the devil. He deserved to be punished. He didn't deserve life.The others had gone.3

Mary, Elizabeth and Sarah. Lost to the flames which engulfed the building. Burned by the fire of hell made by the English. It had collapsed. Brick and mortar burned to ash along with the bodies of over 200 young women who worked in the wool factory.4

Then Will. Will... Why did he have to leave? Such a bright young boy. The spitting image of his father, just like the demon sat next door. The one thanking the Lord for sparing him. Why him? 'Ja' He does look like his father, but not Wills father. Wills father was pure and honest. His father was a liar a cheat, Just like him.5

His leg didn't really hurt, he cheated, he pretended. He killed my son so he didn't face the same fate.6

The same fate as my precious Will. 'Ja' i lost them all.7

He could hear his mothers mind working. He had never  had a full sibling but he had always thought as his four half siblings as his brother and sisters. It wasn't his fault his father got his mother pregnant then left. His leg twinged and he held it willing it to stop paining him. His wound was deep. It felt like it would never stop hurting.8

'Will! Keep going you can do.... argh!'9

'John!John!' Will turned round and ran across back to his brother and towards the enemy.10

'No...Will go... Leave... me...' John yelled at his brother through quick breathes.11

'You know i wouldn't do that kiddo. Your my little brother, i got to look out for you.' He smiled as he threw me over his shoulder and ran towards the trench. He made it and dropped me down into the mud. But something was wrong, John could tell. People around him were shouting and running towards him.12

'Will?' He yelled feebly only to be met with his brother body landing across his midriff. Lifeless. Dead.13

'Shot to the head. He was almost there as well.' Voices were talking but fading out as John realised what had happened.14

'Will! Will?! Answer me! Will wake up! Will!' John screamed and weeped but Will never moved.15

He shut the curtains and looked at the floor a tear slipping steadily down his cheek. The old war wound was still playing up even though it had been over 30 years. No wife, No children, No family. His mother had taken her life shortly after he arrived home. She couldn't even look at him. Her last words to her son echoed round his head16

'You killed him. Its your fault. He died for you.'17

He never came to terms with what had happened so he lived out his days in the memory of the war that killed the one who saved his life.18

He never thanked the Lord. He cursed him.19