He used to sleep with his window open. It was too warm in his room, he said, even in winter. So when the first blood moon came, and I ran up to my brother's room, I wasn't surprised it was open. And he was gone. As we were loaded up into the transports, my parents were inconsolable. I was numb. We thought that one of them had come in through the window and taken him. But we found out later that my brother's open window let him out. I don't think I'd be writing this now if it didn't.
Paddy Dobson
27th July 2021