A nudge to my ribs made me jerk awake to see my brother's smiling face. How long was I out?
"I had to wake you up because you weren't listening." He poked my side.
I sat up, salty air was lying thickly on my tongue and filled my nostrils. Where was I?
Frigid water reached up and caressed the sand and the toes of my boots only to roll out again. I was on a beach. Dunkirk.
The enclosed beach was silent. But packed with thousands of other men, weary and cold. Others were lying motionless in the sand. Almost as if they were dead.
"What happened?" Were the only words I could mutter.
"The German advance was so quick that we were caught by surprise and pushed back to Dunkirk. We have been here for two days." He said, rather surprised that I would question how we got here.
"Must have crossed my mind." I replied, doubtfully.
"Hello sons." It was my dad. With his catching smile and twinkle in his eyes, I forgot that any second we could be killed.
Wait. They were going to be killed.
This could be why I am reliving the past. To try and save their lives.
Shattering the silence, a low rumbling noise caused many men on the beaches to stare up into the sky.
It was the Luftwaffe...
Everyone watched as the plane crossed the evening skies, it's white tail left to fade with the last of dusk.
It was coming towards us. Bombs being dropped on poor defenseless lads, blown to bits in front of our eyes.
"Dad, John!"
The Luftwaffe was spraying men with bullets. I couldn't loose them again.
"Come with me!" I shouted. But it was no use. I leapt out of the way, diving head first into sand.
Both of them were struck by a bomb. Blown to bits in front of my eyes.
The tears burst forth like water from a dam, spilling down my face. I felt the muscles of my chin tremble like a small child. They were gone. I could have saved them.
Once the Luftwaffe was satisfied and disappeared into the distance. I sat up again, brushed the sand off me and stared out into the horizon.
It was just like six years ago. I hadn't forgotten how awful it was here. It haunts me and will continue to haunt me.
Ships on fire, men leaping overboard, swimming for their lives. Then ending back up on the beach.
I wonder when Operation Dynamo is going to happen? Reluctantly, I lay down on the sand and closed my eyes.
Alice, I just want to come home.