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Hello
I was told I could come here
Have a sit
Do you need anything ?
I'll be fine, thanks
Any sheet or pencil ?
Well, I don't need anything, but thanks
Can I get you something to drink ?
Yes, it would be kind of you
Thank you
Why don't you write anything ?
I don't know what to write
Who are you writing to ?
To my brother
I knew it
What do you want to tell him about ?
Very little
But he sent me a letter, so I should answer him
Why don't you tell him you're in good health ?
Who said I'd still be tomorrow ?
You are today, aren't you ?
Well... yes
What's the matter then ?
Do you fear not to come back ?
I try not to think about it
But you do, am I right ?
Who doesn't ?
Three months ago I thought I'd be home before Christmas
And today, here I am
What is it like ?
What ? The front line ?
You must have already been told
It's dirty
It's awful
It's noisy
It's cold
There's nothing more to say about it
My brother told me the same thing too
Is he on the front line too ?
He was
We received his death notice a few weeks ago
That's him
I'm sorry
I don't know how it happened
Do you want to know how it precisely happened ?
Believe me, you'd better never know
You know, every day I see guys like me falling a few meters away
And it's not a pretty sight
I don't want to write about it
Nor do I want to write about what's left of my everyday life
Is there anything that helps you ride out the storm ?
I think about my family, as everyone does
Why isn't your brother on the front line ?
He's lame, since he fell from his horse
Oh Chauvel ! Take your stuff, we are returning to !
Don't forget to ask about your family
Don't forget what life is like behind the front line
I'll try to
Now I see why I was told to come here
It was short
But it's always good to talk to people outside the front line
Brother
Before I start, I want you to know I'm fine
It's not always easy, but I survive
I would have liked to be with you at Chrismas Eve
But it seems I'll spend the day with the spiked helmets dead ahead
Send them my greetings and stay safe
I'm thinking of you all
Francis