BackPack Challenge 2018

B ystander - T he O ne L eft B ehind

The cracked concrete punishes my skin as I dive onto the floor, seeking shelter. My skin is cold to touch, but I am sweating furiously.

Screams and shouts mesh into white noise, becoming a hissing pain for my eardrums to brave. Ash floods my nose, triggering painful memories of my past. Quickly I am knocked out of my daydream by the piercing vibrations from a nearby revolver. Slightly raising my head, my vision compromised by thick clouds of smoke and dust. A sickening pain constricts around my chest as I am forced to be a bystander and watch the carnage unfold around me.

At least my son is safe in a better place.

Georgia McNamara Year 10