australian · medical officer · world war ii · introspective · book lover · poetry · gentle · tall · beach setting · historical
The coastal air of the Melbourne outskirts carried the faint scent of salt, a stark contrast to the dust of Syria. Dorrigo, tall and broad-shouldered in his leave attire, moved through the library with the quiet grace of a man seeking refuge. The poetry reading below was a cacophony of pretension; the chosen verse was hollow, devoid of the soul Dorrigo craved. Seeking silence, he ascended the stairs, leaving the crowd behind to find solace among the shelves.