Sad, morbid, miserable, hopeless, unhappy, cynical, sinister... it's meant to be. Any of these words fit the theme war perfectly. It's war; and war is no game, unless you call fighting to death a game...

Any way, enjoy (if you can) and please leave a comment, I would like to know what you really think.

A Soldier's Choice

In Flanders' fields the poppies blow,

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place: and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

John Mc Crea

Una said nothing, did nothing. What could she do? Her life was over. She felt numb; senseless. Then, yet again, she remembered what Walter's last words of advice were to her. Always keep faith.

Even those memories of far off Rainbow Valley days, ignorance and bliss, before the war; seemed ancient and hardly there.

Her life stretched out before her, a bleak and empty road. Misty and uncertain. Hardship and death plaguing it and haunting it. There was no bend in her road. Her love was buried with him, where ever he lay, and would always lay, "under the blood stained soil "Somewhere in France".

"Why war and why now?" Una said hopelessly, "They did not have to go."

"Una, every man who is old enough and fit enough, has a feeling of obligation; a sense of duty," Walter replied firmly but understandingly, "It is for us to fight for, and you to believe in."

Then he got up, his dreamy, grey eyes brave and somewhat defiant. He paused, before turning to go.

"After all....it's a soldier's choice."

Walter then turned and walked away along the path that led out of Rainbow Valley and up to Ingleside, for the last time. He did not look back.

And Una wept.

And so, as the train rounded the bend, with Walter on it, Una knew that it was over. It was no premonition.

But she had seen him, the Piper, whom Walter and so many others had turned to follow to his grave, where ever it may be. She felt the loss like many other women.

She would see him no more; never again. It was, after all, a soldier's choice.

Always keep faith.

They shall not grow old

As we who are left grow old

Age shall not weary them

Nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun,

And in the morning:

We will remember them.

"For the Fallen, 1914"

Thank you for reading. Please be merciful and give me your honest opinion. No hard feelings; no grudges. Life is too short and precious to waste. It may be snatched away from you when you least expect it. Trust in God, and always, always keep faith.

And if you read this, person who leaves wonderful reviews, and whose name appears to be "Account not found": I would like to send you a message but I can't. I desperately want to talk to you; but I can't. Could you please do something so I can?

Thank you so much if you get this. :)