Prateeksha Jana, Class X D
The other day I had gone for an evening walk. On the way, I noticed an old woman reading a letter. Her hands were trembling and there were tears in her eyes. I went to her and sat down wordlessly on the park bench. What could I say or do? It was undoubtedly a letter announcing her son’s / daughter’s death – that he/she had fought valiantly, his/her body had been disposed of with honour, etc.
The world hadn’t always been like this. Since Consul Malachi’s death, it seems the planet has been sucked into some dystopian vortex where everyone fought, killed and conquered. I’ve heard stories of how this has happened twice before, dubbed ‘The World Wars’.
“Madam, please listen to me.” I spoke softly, well aware of the delicate situation. She raised her eyes to look at me. I noticed that the wrinkles around her eyes were not from old age but from tension and sheer exhaustion.
“It’s all going to end. This has happened before. I know it will happen again. But this terror, that this world is plunged into, it will end.”
“How do you know that?” she asked me.
“Because I am one of the people who’ll end it.” I spoke with soft determination.
(13 years later)
“Grandma, what are you doing?” A girl with red pigtails asked an old woman.
“Paying my respects to someone who gave me hope when all was dark.” She replied, kneeling down and put a single rose on the tombstone.
“Here lies Cathy Lawliet, who contributed to stopping the Great War. A dauntless fighter, a loyal friend and a loving wife.”
“She said it would end. And so it has.” She spoke, tears filling her eyes.
