Post by Stephen Colly on Jul 13, 2010 18:20:23 GMT
Stephen just listened, listened to what Edward said about how life only burdened those capable of carrying the weight...and then spoke of what they had been through. Yes, they had been through a lot – battles, scars, adventures...it was quite an amazing thought to stand back and see what they had been through: the friendship, the changing of sides, etc. It was quite an achievement for these two men.
The boy laughed as Edward spoke of how he had betrayed his friends and how Stephen didn’t like women – yes, the friendship had endured a lot and that meant a very strong friendship that they had; a very strong one indeed and as long as neither died, they’d be friends for life...after this dreadful war. Ed spoke what Stephen had thought – that this wasn’t goodbye.
”Yeah, yeah definitely.” Stephen nodded slightly. The man before him had opened a pack of cigarettes and was handing one to Stephen, saying that he should dry his eyes and that he wouldn’t be able to “trot” back to his side of this mess with him looking like someone had died. The boy took the cigarette and drew long and hard on it before letting the smoke escape into the air of the early morning. Maybe if he stared like this then Ed wouldn’t have to go...maybe he’d start crying again and then the man would have to stay.
No, of course he shouldn’t do that...that was just stupid – they both had people to see, things to do when they got back to their separate lines. Lines that had once been the same...not any more and probably never again.
He whipped his eyes on his sleeve and breathed shakily before standing up, taking another long drag of the cigarette and blowing the smoke into the air, watching as it twirled and twisted through the air and off above the trees. ”I’ll see you around then, Ed.” he paused and took another shaky breath, trying to compose himself, he had to look away from the man in case he’d cry again – ”Thank you for everything.” he mumbled, holding back the tears and forcing a smile on to his face; a smile that would probably break into pitiful sight, one where he’d be crying as soon as he was out of ear shot of Edward.
The boy laughed as Edward spoke of how he had betrayed his friends and how Stephen didn’t like women – yes, the friendship had endured a lot and that meant a very strong friendship that they had; a very strong one indeed and as long as neither died, they’d be friends for life...after this dreadful war. Ed spoke what Stephen had thought – that this wasn’t goodbye.
”Yeah, yeah definitely.” Stephen nodded slightly. The man before him had opened a pack of cigarettes and was handing one to Stephen, saying that he should dry his eyes and that he wouldn’t be able to “trot” back to his side of this mess with him looking like someone had died. The boy took the cigarette and drew long and hard on it before letting the smoke escape into the air of the early morning. Maybe if he stared like this then Ed wouldn’t have to go...maybe he’d start crying again and then the man would have to stay.
No, of course he shouldn’t do that...that was just stupid – they both had people to see, things to do when they got back to their separate lines. Lines that had once been the same...not any more and probably never again.
He whipped his eyes on his sleeve and breathed shakily before standing up, taking another long drag of the cigarette and blowing the smoke into the air, watching as it twirled and twisted through the air and off above the trees. ”I’ll see you around then, Ed.” he paused and took another shaky breath, trying to compose himself, he had to look away from the man in case he’d cry again – ”Thank you for everything.” he mumbled, holding back the tears and forcing a smile on to his face; a smile that would probably break into pitiful sight, one where he’d be crying as soon as he was out of ear shot of Edward.
