Will our Friendship Last?

Will Our Friendship Last?

As the smoke rose on the battlefield, I sat there looking at the picture which was in my pocket; the picture took me back a few years in better times, when I was a child, as I sat in the pit with my injured leg.

Running across the bank laughing, “the last one to the bridge is the loser” shouted James.

“You can’t beat me” I replied as we raced, suddenly I remember falling as I seem too have been impaired by something on the bank and letting out a loud scream.

Helped to my feet “Don’t worry, while I’m here nothing will happen to you” came from the comforting voice of James.

Providing a supporting shoulder, I was helped home and the doctor was called, I was bleeding heavily by this time we got home and James held my leg while we waited for the doctor to attend.

This was one of many occasions when James has been there for me and I have been there for him.

James plays the mouth organ and I play the flute, we have played together until late at night, we have also played to comfort each other when we have been sad or depressed.

I can still remember the time when James Grand Mother passed away, being so close to her, I could feel his pain and the depressed state he was in. I played the flute on the day of the funeral of his granny. I played the flute almost every night until late at night outside his home, by his window, so that he could sleep. It took time but I was happy to see that it helped overcome the sorrow.

Thinking about it, me and James have been friends since childhood, always lived near each other, gone to the same school and always looked out for each other.

I also remember the day, when his family moved away to begin afresh, we spent the whole day together, exchanging items to remember each other, we both were sad and we played our instruments to help ease the sadness.

I still remember our last conversation where we both, looked at each other and said “WILL OUR FRIENDSHIP LAST?”

After a few months we lost all contact, for what reason, I still don’t know.

How I wish my friend was with me today. The way I feel at this very moment only my friend James would know, I wonder what James is doing today.

I sit here at the battlefield, seeing my fellow comrade’s fall, I have no one to share my sorrow, only my thoughts and my flute to give me company.

I sit there wondering do I play my flute or do I use my last breath to fight this war.

In among the noise of gun shots and bombs exploding, all of a sudden I hear a faint yet sweet sound of what seems like a mouth organ, am I dreaming or is the same tune which me and James use to play together?

I cannot stop myself from leaving the pit, dragging my injured body to the sound as I move further away from the pit the sound of the mouth organ is getting louder and louder.

I begin to play my flute, while moving closer to the sound of the mouth organ, then the sound between the two instruments is in sync; I’m beginning to believe this is the sound of the mouth organ of my good friend James.

Out of the smoke I see a shadow as if someone is coming towards me, I can’t make out the figure, I’m too dazed to know, this may be the end of me, I don’t have the strength to fight, I collapse, only to be supported up, I rub my eyes, I can’t tell who it is I don’t recognise the face, only for the person to smile at me and say “it is me, it is James”.

I smile back and see James in the clothing of the army who we are fighting, while falling to the ground with my last breath I ask James “Will our friendship last?”

With a smile and a tear James replied “Always, my dear friend, always”.