Seychelles curled in a ball against my figure. Tears streamed down her cheeks like rivers. She was young, she was weak, she was scared. Without trade she was nothing. She had nothing. Her economy suffered, she was vulnerable. That frog Francis had always forgotten her. Never I, she made sure of that with her constant nagging, complaining, defiance. I still cared for her despite that. She was my daughter. She needed me. There was no one else in the world.
"Why?" She whispered. She might have said more but she choked on her words. I held her tightly but gently, like if I let go the girl in front of me would break and crumble into pieces. I stroked her hair softly, sighing sadly. Seeing her in this state brought tears to my eyes. I wouldn`t cry. I refuse to cry. I hadn`t cried since America declared independence.
"I wish I could explain. But I can`t." Having to say that was enough to push me over the edge. The tears spilled over.
"Are you scared daddy?" Her voice was soft and shaking.
"Not as much as you." Was all I managed. Which was true. Yes she had faced my anti-slavery legislation which proved troublesome for her people, and yes she had made it through torrential rain and avalanches hit Mahe, but she had never encountered something so serious. I had encountered war, I knew what was going on, what I was doing, and what the allied forces` next move was. I knew what would happen next and was usually a step ahead. But here she was, not even in the middle of the war and suffering greatly. Surely she was spooked, panicked over the sudden economic crisis.
"I wish I could do something. I wish I could fight."
"No." I refused to let her get hurt, to see the things I have seen, yes she will eventually, but not at such a young age. "Just sit tight. There is nothing you can do, it will be over soon."
"Why?"
She was painfully stubborn and curious. "Do you know what it is like to kill someone? Do you know what it is truly like on the battlefield, to watch the light fade from a man`s eyes?" He asked her.
"When I was under French rule there was a battle…between you two. France told me to go inside,but instead I stayed."
"That isn`t the same Seychelles, and you know it."
"Yes, I do. I`m going to fight. I have to."
"No Seychelles."
"I`m not asking."
"Seychelles I swear what am I to do with you?"
"I`m sorry. I just…I`m sorry. Daddy?"
"Yes?"
"Am I weak for being scared?"
I held her tighter. "Of course not."
"Are you crying?"
"You ask too many questions." I kissed her paled forehead. It was heart breaking really. She was always so full of life, overly happy. Now she seemed like a hollow shell of her former self. Her eyes which were usually so cheerful looked dead. Her usually deeply tanned skin was a sickly pale. Her ever smiling lips couldn`t bring themselves to turn up. And with her silent hopeless tears, it was just too much. And to think it was only the beginning. The World Wars had begun.