Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 - 2017 | Page 142

September 4, 1937
My prediction was right. The Japanese have broken through the Northern gate. I have heard talk that they are fighting
our front lines right now. Things are tense here in Shanghai. Everywhere I go, there is nobody outside. Everyone’s
scared. They’re hiding. There’s no laughter, no joy. My time will come soon. I hope I will see you soon.
Yours
Ah Cheng Fa
September 11, 1937
Another wave of Japanese warriors have arrived. My time to fight will come soon. It is inevitable. We are losing and
badly. There have been so many casualties, I stopped counting them. Today, my shoes broke. It makes me wonder.
What conditions are the people in the front lines facing? The ground is rough.
Ah Cheng Fa
The letters kept coming. Mei received four in a week. At the end of the week, Mei and Wei sat down to read all the
letters that had piled up on her table. She had stored the other ones in a pack, tied together.
September 18, 1937
Our section of the army has been sent North to keep on guard. We have to protect Dachang. It is the only way we can
survive. The Japanese army still haven’t come this far. I hope it stays this way. I asked for new shoes but they said that
they couldn’t give me any. They didn’t have extra. I have blisters on my foot.
Ah Cheng Fa
September 25, 1937
I heard explosions close by. The fight is coming to us. I will protect Shanghai with my life. As you know, it was where
I was born and I will die here too if I have to. Last night, our barracks stayed up playing card games and gambling. We
didn’t have anything to gamble apart from a few apples. Can you believe that? Gambling for apples. It was fun anyway.
I lost.
Ah Cheng Fa
October 2, 1937
We had our second battle today. It wasn’t that bad. We fought using the hand grenades. From afar. We didn’t have
many casualties. Just a few injured people. I hope our luck stays up. I still keep praying every time I go to sleep and
wake up. Yesterday, in my sleep, I could still hear the explosions. They’re loud.
Ah Cheng Fa