Tommy let his head rest back against the sand. It was hard, cold and wet. He knew that in the dunes further up it was softer but he couldn’t be bothered with the climb for the moment. The others seemed to have gone on without him, never mind, he could catch them later. He’d take a couple of minutes to rest here, nobody would mind surely and then he’d get back on the job.
He wondered where the noise had gone, a very short time ago he had been deafened by it, all the people and the boats and everything, but now it was beautifully quiet. His clothes were still a bit wet from where he had waded in the edge of the sea, but all in all he wasn’t too uncomfortable. He was hungry though and really thirsty, but resting here with his head on the sand and his muscles unwinding, he couldn’t summon up the energy to open his pack and see if he could find something to eat.
It wouldn’t seem right anyway, the others weren’t eating yet and he should wait. He would wait until they were all ready, finished with what they had to do and then maybe they could all eat together, just sit around and they could talk about the day.
There was a gull, sailing high, high above the dunes wheeling and turning in the grey sky. The rain had started again and he thought that maybe he should get up, try and find some shelter but again the will was there yet the strength to undertake the task just failed him. For a moment he was a bit worried, why did he feel so very tired. It had been tough the last few days of course, it had been a long journey but he was young, surely he shouldn’t feel this tired, he wondered about it for a while and then let it go, it just didn’t seem to matter anymore.
He heard a shout, in the distance and he raised his head, there were a couple of the others coming up towards him. He didn’t know them but they’d probably be able to tell him where his friends had gone and what he was supposed to do next. He’d just lay here and wait until they came over.
“There’s another one here Sarge, poor bugger. Both legs gone, thank God he’s dead, hopefully it were merciful and quick. Tags say he’s called Tommy. Are you ready, let’s get the poor bugger moved.”
They were lifting him, NO, he didn’t want them to move him, he just wanted to stay here, on the cold, hard sand with the gull circling above him and the beautiful silence soothing his battered spirit.
Header Image: By Rennett Stowe from USA (Omaha Beach, Normandy, France) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons
Footer Image: By No 5 Army Film & Photographic Unit, Mapham J (Sgt) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
literally stories 
A perfect gem of a story. So heart-breaking! So beautiful! So unforgettable! Bravo! June
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Thank you June
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I found this very moving Diane. You write pieces like this so vividly and with a lot of skill. Thank you for making me stop, think and remember.
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Thanks so much Nik we have to remember don’t we.
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This is (still) good. Lots of love, Diane! xx 🙂
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Marvellous Diane, just as we’re getting really intrigued as to what’s up with this guy, you hit us with a totally unexpected denouement.
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Thank you so much for all the kind and supportive comments. DD
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This was really good, Diane. I had not read this before and it hit me with a bit of a punch. Sweden, as you know, isn’t a warlike country. Well, we assist here and there, possibly will Sweden be more involved and I really hope I don’t have to witness the tragedy of having to say goodbye to a family member. I’m rambling, sorry. Great writing as always.
ATVB my friend
Tobbe
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Hi Diane, you always write this sort of material with a respect that is evident and very powerful.
Sparse, poignant and beautifully written.
Hugh
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Thank you for the generous feedback.
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Quietly haunting. I love the image of the gulll in the grey sky.
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Thank you for the comment – I am glad it resonated with you.
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Lovely moving story. Set the scene perfectly. I felt for poor Tommy, as we should feel for all these poor souls. Glad to see it as I just joined the site.
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Thank you. I am so glad that you enjoyed this and welcome to LS.
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Hi Diane,
Great to see this back up there.
I reckon this should be seen at least once a year!!
Maybe if we put it on Facebooktwitterwhatthefucktweet the kids would see it.
They need to, they really do!
Hugh
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Thanks Hugh. I think it’s important to keep on telling these stories and not let the whole horrific butchery just become entertainment as the old soldiers die and all we are left with are films.
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