The Little Swiss Cottage

Hello. I’m Ivy, and I’m fourteen years old. I never thought this would happen to my home. My beautiful home. Five months ago, war hit Swansea. I don’t know why. I’m here alone, apart from my little dog, Holly. My family fled to Cardiff but couldn’t take Holly. I refused to leave without her, so here I am.

I’m in my favourite park, walking around. Trees are on the floor, ashes cover the mud and smoke is thick in the air. The little old cottage that used to stand proud on the corner is flattened, nothing but wood scattered on the floor.

Suddenly, clutching onto Holly, I heard gunshots behind me. ‘The final sweep’ they called it. They were trying to eliminate everyone in Swansea, but they were losing because everyone was fleeing, so they killed absolutely everybody left. I knew it then. I had to go to Cardiff as well. But I was definitely taking Holly, so that cancelled out the train.

I’d have to get there by foot. I didn’t even know if my family had made it safe. For all I knew, they could have been dead. I didn’t even know if they had found a home.

So I started running. I decided that even though it was risky, I’d try to make it to Port Talbot today. Without getting caught. After all the factories got blown up, no one ever went there, so I good chance of making it. Going along the seafront was my best option, because town would be full of army members trying to find everyone.

My heart started aching with the memory of what my mother last said to me. “I need you to be safe. Live for me, and come to us as soon as you can. I love you.” And then what my best friend last said to me. “The cafeteria really need to reassess their menu.” I giggled at that. But then wasn’t the time to remember who I loved, it was the time to find who I loved.

I set off sneaking along the beach, staying close to the wall, never letting little Holly slip out of my arms. I walked for hours, hiding, running and walking.

And them I saw it. The river I had to cross to get there. And looking up, I saw the blown up, destroyed bridge.