After months of relentless training, Victor and I were placed on the western front, a 400-mile stretch of land through France and Belgium, to fight in the battle of the Somme . I’ve always wanted to travel. This definitely wasn’t what I had in mind.
I was told great battles were to be fought here, on the western front. ‘Great’ what a foolish way of describing war. They put men with no experience in danger and I was forced to stand by and watch as countless died beside me.

I curse my trembling body as I'm clinging to the rifle, it feels unfamiliar in my hands and I can’t bear the thought of firing it. Of killing another man. How can I be such a coward when Victor is already clambering up and out of the trench with a smile on his face? Such a positive attitude seems beyond impossible at a time like this but Victor always makes it look so easy.
The horrible rancid smell of the trenches snaps me out of my deep thought and panic fills my mind. It’s time to go. My hands are shaking even more now and my vision is becoming blurry, my boots slip in the mud and my breathing quickens. I feel as if I’m suffocating. I can’t speak. I can’t scream. My throatis closing up and my body is frozen. “Come on Colin, we can do this!” I hear the muffled voice of Victor echo in the back of my mind but I’m stuck in the ditch and now shaking uncontrollably.

They say ignorance is bliss. Maybe that’s why no one saved us. Maybe that’s why the government lied and led their people to slaughter. I’ve always had strong feelings about the war, all of them being negative, but Victor thought otherwise and I guess that’s why I’m here. Trembling in a trench like the coward I am. The coward I always have been whether I like it or not. Victor never called me a coward. Victor was the one cheering me on, picking me up, calming me down. I trust Victor completely and I know he will never do anything to hurt me. I don't think he could even if he wanted to. We’re inseparable and I know this more than ever as I feel his hand now in mine and his reassuring tone already calming my nerves, bringing me back down from my panic.
I feel his warm breath on my neck as he puts his arm around my shoulder. I come to my senses and turn to face him. Where a disapproving frown should be I see a sympathetic smile and the flash of his emerald eyes. He helps me up and we begin to climb out of the trenches. I feel invincible when I’m with him and I am now filled with confidence. I’m unstoppable. We are unstoppable.

We charge forward through a hail of bullets to no man’s land and I keep glancing down trying to avoid tripping on the uneven ground. The smell of smoke fills my brain and I can’t think. Everything is a blur. I feel as if I’m in a trance. I can barely resist the urge to run back to the safety of the trenches, muddy and uncomfortable as they are. We reach barbed wire and victor pulls out his cutters safely getting us through and we continue. I’m not sure where we are...