"Last Day of Bohem" by Jacob H

     In times where the medieval crusades existed and the people lived in fear as hundreds of ‘steel’ headed soldiers roamed around killing whom they believed to be in heathens, lived one soldier who seemed to be an odd one out. The only one who refused to go into a burning village, the only one to pull his sword, and the only one who praised the lord in a more innocent and calm manner, and lastly, the only one to go against the word of the pope. As many horses with soldiers charged into the villages he charged in, heart beating, sweat dripping, and his mind horrified. He knew these murders were spreading all over the country like a pestilence. He commits an act of treason and abandons his position, instead of assisting his fellow knights he flees, however not alone. He assists a family of four, two small boys and their, all seemed skinny, covered in ash, and horrified. Although a man of little words, his actions truly spoke out to the family. “My name is Bohem, please I am not here for harm.” Bohem, our confused soldier raids their food closet, only finding baskets of stale fruit and nearly rotten bread, however anything to keep him energized will have to do, he shoves the food into his sack. Bohem stares at the family and shows the children his sword, one that the average crusader may have been seen holding, he hands it to the eldest son, who seems to be in early adult years. “Why are you giving me this, for what purpose do I have with it?” says the boy. “My son will not follow in these attacks!” The father yells as he pulls out a small dagger and takes a jab towards Bohem, chaos occurring in this single home as much larger chaos occurs outside. Bohem grabs his arm just before he could be stabbed, “It is just for protection, we are leaving and escaping, down south is a village hidden in the forest.”. He begins outside and waits for the family to family them, he waits for a few minutes as the entirety of the family discussed amongst themselves. However, no one has heard the mother's voice yet and she has not spoken through all of this confusing chaos. The family walks out, sacks hung over their backs and the youngest child carries a small book, with the phrase “Poetry” written across its filthy cover. “Child, what is your favorite poem?” asks Bohem, “Chardon de Croisilles, it’s about the abandonment a man may experience when he is forced into the armies.” a creepy response, yet quite understandable considering the current years. A full eight hours of groaning and silence as the family and soldier travel, the shining sun fades below the darkness of night. “We shall rest here, use the sacks to rest your head, we must not all sleep, father and husband of the family, will you assist me in keeping patrol?” Bohem urgently asks the father, “Im William, and of course, I can not trust you with my children.” replies William, aggressively yet again, understandable. In the middle of the night Bohem decides to switch and gives William a tap, suggesting to switch, William does so happily, oddly. During the night William holds the dagger in his hand and stares at Bohem, not for seconds, not minutes, but for nearly an hour. Slowly approaching Bohem, he wakes up and stares at William, unarmed and no way to fight back. Stab wounds, many stab wounds, enough to kill a man, yet Bohem seems to have not passed yet. With coughs and struggled breathing he leaves his final message “Take them South, head towards the protected village and protect your family, do not refuse to do whatever you must, the times we live in are cruel and confusing and you must do whatever you must to protect yourself.'' His final breath passes as does his soul and his life.