《12 Days of Ramenzo》soldier sociability
Advertisement
December 25, 1914
The guns have been silent for a whole day, now, but I can still hear their echoes. Every moment feels like a bated breath, waiting for another gunshot. But the artillery goes unarmed.
We set candles on the trenches and sang carols, and to our surprise, the enemy joined us in song. Some of us dared to climb the trenches, but no one was shot down. Rather, the Brits joined us midway, as if forgetting we the adversary, proceeded to spend time with us in good nature.
I think we're all sick and tired of this war. It's drawn out five months now and I've seen more death than I'd have ever fathomed in a whole lifetime, let alone less than twenty years. We buried the corpses side by side - they let us cross over to gather our dead, and vice versa. They gave us gifts, too, small trinkets and alcohol.
There was a boy among them - I don't know how he made it onto the battlefield. Too young, too fragile - hardly a child. He was singing with his comrades-in-arms, though when I approached him, he went silent, and fixed me with a piercing gaze that defied his youthful features. There was a blazing fire in those eyes, and I would have been nearly convinced that he hated me simply for being German, that he evaded enlistment requirements only to brutally defeat his enemy, but he did not rebuke me when I offered him a drink.
He had dark hair and fierce eyes, a thin face with lips pressed together in displeasure. He spoke coldly, foreign English words I didn't understand. But he took the small piece of bread I painstakingly procured from the supplies, and hesitantly accepted the single souvenir I found in my pocket. He did not give any word of thanks as he took it, gripping it securely in his hand as though someone were threatening to take it away. I offered him a drink and he took just one swig of the alcohol before he was on the ground, spitting it out.
Advertisement
Young and weak - I don't know how he's survived till now. Stronger men have succumbed to the festering trenches, and I've heard it's even worse on the other side. He's a remarkable exception, one that defied all odds in spite of his fragile frame. And yet he quivered like a leaf in the winter cold. There was almost something in the way he looked at me that challenged me, as if daring me to judge him before proving me wrong.
Though he didn't join us in the football match that ensued between us and the enemy.
Can you imagine, a German playing a match of football with a Brit on a battlefield over the graves of a hundred fallen men? And the abject lack of hesitation between them as they kick rolled up papers across the frozen ground, laughing and joking in their own languages as if forgetting it was war at all. They shake hands and embrace like kinsmen, not a tension or fleeting worry of a stab in the back.
He sat there, spectating the match, simply staring on as he traced the bottlecap in his hand. I don't know what was on his mind. The war, family, his dead comrades. Those were all thoughts we shared. Home, here, and the distance between.
A flickering emptiness in his eyes, replaced immediately by fire the moment I dared to sit down next to him.
He proceeded to mutter at me words I simply did not understand, and I laughed and almost slapped his back, too, out of good nature. But he fixed me with a glare that inspired a unique fear in me that I had not felt since I was a boy running from Mama's wooden spoon.
His comrade brought out a pipe and one of our soldiers had bartered him tobacco. He offered me a smoke, and then the Brit, and he took it without wheezing. He must have noted my surprise, and I dare say he smiled, then. Not a friendly smile, but a smile.
Advertisement
And how we all sang, together, in different tongues indecipherable to one another, but united in song. It must have been a fever dream, enemies united in brotherhood for but a number of hours.
The sun has set, since then, and I write this by the flame of a dying candle. They speak of resuming battle tomorrow. Soon the air will be filled with the sounds of gunfire and death again. It's haunting, the way we can join in brotherhood for a single day, then return to opposite sides and engage once again in bloodshed. They're only human, as are we. Those same faces we saw on the field presently hide in fetid trenches, waiting on our death and defeat.
And the British boy, he'll be in his own trench again, now, unlikely asleep. I'm certain I won't see him again; not in this life. I still don't know his name.
But I will never forget him.
Merry Christmas,
Ramen
-
Advertisement
Addiction
Common knowledge today states that people take around 21 days to stop a certain, but it can get... more complicated than that. Today we will witness the writer, me, go through his journey of rehabilitating and getting his thoughts and priorities straight.
8 190The Last to Fall
Two years ago, the end of the world came, and was turned aside by black and bitter sacrifice, Brandon Argovieso giving of himself in order to achieve victory. Only the barest traces of magic remain, a scant few survivors that know of the old, arcane ways, withering away as the world turns. But something is coming – nightmares of fire and ash haunt his sleep, the world burning away to an empty ruin. An investigation into a mysterious cult leads to the discovery of an ancient secret, something that shouldn’t exist. With the aid of the few allies he has remaining, he must seek the cause of this doom, and attempt to protect the world against a new and terrifying threat.
8 165Lola's Birthday Wish
After a miserable seventh birthday party, Lola Loud makes a wish but gets way more than she bargained for.
8 189The Soul Princess
First, sorry if you have difficulties reading my fiction. I am not that good in English but I want to make better English for you guy. The general idea is here.If you have ideas of a way to help me I would like to know them. Thank you for your understanding. Did you imagine if your father is death and you have special powers? I imagined it. I want to tell you that some characters are inspired or pick of the video game Diablo 3 the reaper of souls. There gonna be references to it. Probably nephalems.In the story, the main protagonist wants to know why she different from others. she will also search for her father and her mom. during her adventures, she will find some monster who wants to kill her. example: Leoric the crazy king. also, archangel and demons want her power to protect the world or destroy it. Who will be the one who controls's her? Why archangels and demons are afraid of nephalems and her? So many questions.
8 155ɪɴꜰᴇʀɴᴏ • ᴋᴏᴋɪᴄʜɪ x ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ
Y/n is the Ultimate Fire Dancer ! With a pretty fun personality, her and 16 other students get forced into a killing game. Nothing good can come out of that...right?Well, a certain male has caught her attention.. he's known for being a liar. And she's aware of that. However there is a point where she cannot tell the difference between his lies and the truth. •! Sorry for any spelling mistakes , I normally don't look over the chapters before I publish them 😭 !
8 128FATE | a new love story | KTH
Y/n and Taehyung being best friends shared every moment. Both fell in love. With instances the distance between them grew. But FATE brings them together. Meant for each other 💜*This is my first fanfiction... So please ☺️ support *
8 161