1917: Burning Flame

3-Enlisted-

    "Finally, " exclaimed Nadia, "Jeez Mikhael, I didn't think you would end up forgetting about 

today, but I think if we run you should be able to make it on time." She smirked at him and 

turned to run. Mikhael secured his satchel and ran after her. " Nadia! wait up!" he shouted. 

They ran down the cobbled streets of the town, seeing children playing and laughing. A 

woman swept outside her home and waved to Mikhael and Nadia both. As they maneuvered 

through the town Mikhael saw how great it was to live in this environment. A place as 

beautiful and joyful as this one. He thought to himself how he will do anything for the good 

of his people. Nadia looked back at him and giggled saying," Come on, we can take our 

shortcut to reach the town square." She stopped in front of an abandoned home and 

turned to look at Mikhael, signaling him to hurry. Mikhael reaches her and Nadia grasps

 his hand, " Let's go!" She pushes open the old rusted door and rushes in, pulling Mikhael 

along.

    They run through the house coming outside through the back and jump over the 

wooden fence lining the edges of the weed ridden yard. A group of chickens fluttered out 

of their way as feathers glided down from the air. One of the feathers sticking to his mouth. 

Mikhael blew to get the feather out of his face while Nadia just laughed as they both kept 

running. In the next yard they crossed an old woman shouted, " In a rush again, are we? Did

 he forget to wake up again?" " We are and yes, yes he did," Nadia responded. The old 

woman cackled and said," My my my, you two have not changed one bit since you were little."

 Still running, Mikhael started reminiscing his childhood, growing up along his best friend 

Nadia. The times they got in trouble together and would run through the abandoned 

house. "Duck!" Just then Mikhael ran into a bed sheet that hung from a clothesline. Both 

Nadia and the old woman burst into laughter. He frowned as they laughed and slowly he 

started to laugh as well. As the pair finished crossing the old woman's yard they were back 

on a main street. They turned to look up the street and saw a sizable crowd gathered. 

Nadia tugged at Mikhael, "Quickly!"

    Together they rushed through the crowd gathered in the town square. He made sure to

 stay close to her the whole way. He slipped in between people conversing and bumped into

 others walking by. He saw Nadia stop near an opening and turn to look at him. "Over here, 

hurry." He started moving a bit faster towards her and finally broke through the crowd. 

There were two long lines of men in the opening. At the front end of the lines were small 

tables with what seemed to be an official with two guards at either side of them. "Go on, get 

in line fool," Nadia said smiling. Mikhael looked back at her with a grin. He got behind a big 

and burly man and tapped him. The bald man turned and in a gentle voice questioned, 

"yes?" Mikhael moved back a bit in shock, wondering how a man of this size and build could 

have such a soft voice. " Ehhh... are you in line for the enlistments?"  he asked the towering 

seven foot tall man. " I am, my name is Taras. You are?" " Oh, I'm Mikhael." " Well It's nice to 

meet you, Mikhael. Tell me, why are you signing up?" " I just think its the right thing to do. I 

feel as though it is my duty to fight for my people. They deserve better lives and that is what 

I want to give them." "Hmm... I see. So pretty much the same as every other man in this line, 

hahahaha" " I suppose, yes." Mikhael smiled nervously. " Don't worry kid, having this common 

goal is what unites us all and gives us strength. 

    "Now, do you have family you are leaving behind?" " Family... only my mother. She doesn't 

know I'm signing up, however. She would try to stop me... I did leave her a letter." " I see... I 

myself and leaving my wife and two children. I love my family and that is why I am going to 

fight." Taras had a serious face when he said this and looked down longingly as he entered 

his thoughts. He looked suddenly back up with a gentle smile, "Well, I think we will both make

 it back. For family!!" "For family!" Just then Taras turned around to step forward towards the 

enlistment officer. Mikhael looked back to see if Nadia had gone. He saw her still standing 

there as she smiled and waved. He waved back and sighed. Turning back around he was 

called forward to the available table. He was asked to fill out basic information. When he 

was nearly done he reviewed all of it and gazed at the bottom of the page. There was an X 

with a line next to it for his signature. He neared the pen to the line and signed his name, 

the last one to do so. 

    Once he did, he was told to fall into a formation that was behind the tables. As he walked

 towards the formation he heard a voice shout his name. "Mikhael!!! Mikhael!!!" It was his 

mother. She came pushing through the crowd and reached the opening. He turned to look 

at his weeping mother. His throat dried and his chest felt heavy. Nadia held his mother so 

she wouldn't run to him. Mikhael joined the formation and the platoons were ordered to 

start marching. He glanced over at his mother one last time and saw Nadia struggling to 

keep her there. His mother wailed for Nadia to let her go as tears spilled from her eyes, 

watching her only son leave before. She fell to her knees and cried out one last time,

 "Mikhael!!!" He turned to face forward and shut his eyes tightly  and opened them with

 tears welling up. his lips quivered as he whispered," I'm sorry mama, but I've already 

enlisted."