This angst story is from England's point of view. Angst fans check out my other story about China and Japan. Its called 'All I Want'
He woke up the same way as always, sweating and panting in fear, head whipping side to side, lookiing for people who weren't there. Last's night's nightmare had been worse than usual. His eyes widened in fear as the memory of his latest nightmare came back to haunt him. Singapore being dragged away by Japan, screaming for help. He had left her when she needed him most, and the guilt haunted him still. He shook his head, hoping that it would clear his head of the terrible, awful memories.
Ten years, he thought. Ten years since his once vast empire of colonies had collapsed. Ten years since the war came and went. When he had been forced to fight his once friends, then enemies. Germany, with his fair and just leadership. Italy, with his happy laughter and merry jokes. Japan, with his quiet, polite ways.. Being forced to hurt them, and see them hurt his allies... The screams of the was as his colonies fell one by one, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong. His friends injured, bleeding, dying...
England shook his head again. The memories might hurt like a salted wound. They might eat away at him every day, and plauge him at night, but he could not forget them. All he could do was get up to face the day, and put on his mask again.
The mask refers to the emotional coolness that is supposedly seemed gentlemanly.