I didn't know where to place this but I knew it was history and short story so I placed it here. If its in the wrong category please help me XD. Due to this being a school paper I'm not changing the plot; grammar critique is appreciated as is opinions.
History: Plague
I coughed, the smoke of the burning fires irritating my throat, the embers flying in the slight breeze as my village burned to the ground. My fingers grasped my linen rag shirt shakily as I moved past the burning humans. The plague had wiped out everyone in my town, yet I was still here. Why me? I didn’t know, but right now I had to work. The farm wouldn't last if I wasn't there to tend it. Nor would I survive much longer without food from the land.
I pushed the tears away; I was fourteen! I could handle the loss. Still a few sobs wracked my body as I remembered the death of my parents and my three year old sister. I remember my parents abandoning my sister and I when things had begun to get worse.
Fear loomed in the back of my head. I couldn't save her. My precious sister died because I couldn't help her. Tears began to fall; a result of the smoke and the guilt. As I was standing in the street, the stench of burning flesh made bile rise in my throat. Swallowing thickly, I forced my trembling legs to move, to walk the path back to my house. It lay a few miles up past the village, safe from the fire and destruction. I felt as if I was going to fall and I wanted nothing more than this nightmare to be over. In only a few years my entire village, once prosperous, had fallen to shambles--just like the rest of the country.
As I entered the hut I felt the fever sapping at my strength, sending the world around me to spin. Collapsing, I felt helpless. There was no way I could survive this. Not when it has destroyed most of my beloved country.
Curled up in the straw bed I waited for the end. Soon my eyes began to droop and with a shuddering breath I slipped deep into darkness. I hoped that it would be the end. How I wanted to see my little sister again!
The next few days passed in agonizing slowness. As I slept black lumps begun to appear, swelling. The pain of them caused me to stir from my insistent slumber, and I felt tears prick behind my eyes as a wave of helplessness went through me. The pain had grown to unbearable heights and I just wanted it to end. 'Make the pain go away,' I thought as I finally slipped deeper into darkness. I didn’t want to relive the pain all over again.
One the third day, I had opened my eyes. I knew it was either late night or early morning, I felt slightly better. I felt a rush of hope lift my spirits. Despite this, I kept my body still as I could, for the pain still too much. With a defeated sigh at the weakness inside me; I allowed sleep to overtake me as I sank again to darkness.
The next time I opened my eyes I knew I would live. The pain was now bearable and I forced myself up. Hunger and thirst gnawed at my stomach and throat, and the world spun in my vision as I held onto a small wood pile for support. Closing my eyes, I muttered, “Thank you, Lord.” My voice was rough as a lump of gratefulness lodged itself in my throat. Tears of joy and relief streaked down my face as I allowed myself to cry. I would live! I felt a light encase the darkness I had suffered the past few days. I would be forever grateful for the second chance of life I was given.
I would live to have a future--a future my sister and village would never get to have. However, I knew they would want me to live as happy as I could be and I vowed to make them proud. I had survived what would later be known to the world as the Black Plague.
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