A day in the trenches
By Kieran Lucas
(The pseudonym of a solider in the past) I awoke to the nauseating smell of gun smoke invading my
nostrils, the thriving nest of lice and rats, disease ridden with many revolting illnesses, of whom
were living in the merely uninhabitable trenches, festered with sicknesses so obnoxious that they
could ferment and kill a mans body within minutes; also there were the leaches, looting and
scavenging for any fresh blood (within the remaining corpses) that hasn’t become so contaminated
with toxins that would in turn kill the leaches; and finally, in addition to this abominable scenario,
there was the woeful awakening of the enemies arsenal, deafening and killing our soldiers at such a
volatile, vigorous rate that the speed of light would struggle to sustain such a brisk pace. But
regardless of all this our lives resumed as normal, with only one ambition to achieve; to survive
another day in the trenches.
As anticipated, around 9am, the first battle commenced. There was a long, physically demanding
exchange between both parties; but progress was mutual, with only a small amount of ground being
gained, by either party. The battle was a long one, so long that a large quantity of smog had
accumulated in the air, making both parties extremely vulnerable to enemy attacks; these
occurrences would petrify any subject of the right sanity (including myself at one stage), but the on
going pain, suffering and conflicts around us was, effectively, immunisation to our sanity leaving us
extremely emotionless, unsympathetic and lacking many natural human emotions.
Many nervy hours passed, but few things transpired. The time was roughly 2:00pm, and the day had
reached its climax: food. In spite of this the food was merely impossible to eat as many other
organisms would often prevail in winning the food, meaning that we were left in a perilous
conundrum of attempting to eat the fermenting food. We attempted not to contract food poisoning,
but that too, was extremely improbable, so often we would spend the rest of the day clenching our
stomachs trying not to vomit, whilst being yelled extremely commanding orders by our conscience
and our commander in an attempt not to perish, and become another decaying corpse.
The day was nearly through, but there was still one more forecast combat. Almost like a replica of
the first battle it was physically punishing, and mentally demanding. The sunset was visible with its
glaring rays almost igniting my eyes; but I fought on. I could, visually see how brutal and ferocious
this battle was going to become, many people died which made me question my own life,
wondering, questioning, the benefits of living. The situation seemed infinite, but in a warp of time I
was left no longer wondering but living reality; the leaches and rats quickly engaged in the state of
affairs, until I was no longer there to feel the intense, agonising pain.