Tomorrow is VE day – a day to officially celebrate the end of the second world war. 75 years ago, the Nazis surrendered and Europe got it’s freedom back. Now, nearly three quarters of a century later, the world is in a different kind of war. Who’d have thought it eh?

We’re now approaching the seventh week of lockdown in the UK and for many people, it’s been really tough. One of the toughest times of their whole lives. No one could’ve predicted something like this happening a year ago, and especially now with such a massive celebration supposed to be taking place this weekend, everything just feels a bit muted. However, it’s important to be able to really acknowledge and learn from the past, and that persistence and our compassion and belief in others will see us through this time.

With things like the world wars, I always look back at how the Atlantic Split would fit into all of this. Having broken apart such a special relationship, it’s hard to imagine that the same kinds of celebrations would be going on right now in Luke’s world (although he’s got other things to occupy his mind with right now). There, one war has just replaced another, and though the Atlantic Split is long over by the time Luke gets round to fighting against it, the effects of it are still being felt, and I’m certain it was the same for WW2. Whilst there’ll still be celebrations on both sides of the Atlantic, they will be for different reasons.

Just like then, one war is overshadowing the end of another. There were certain to be big plans for VE day, considering how grand the celebrations were 75 years ago. However, being unable to leave our homes means we’ll have to find different ways to celebrate, even if we may not feel like it.

And with regards to the war we’re facing against COVID-19 – hopefully there will be one day where we can celebrate the end of this too. It may not be quite the same as everyone rejoicing in Trafalgar Square and at our homes, but it’ll be worth it when we can all get together again and safely say that this is all over. And it will be.

So if there’s one thing to remember tomorrow, it’s this quote below. We’re in a horrific time of our lives with this pandemic and so many loved ones have been lost, but on VE day we have to remember that we too can pull through this and make it out the other side.

“We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing, but let us not forget for a moment the toil and efforts that lie ahead.”

Atlantic Split, At Liberty To Live and An Undercover Dream, the first three books in The Luke Bright Series are available to purchase NOW! The final book of the series A Long Lost Time will be released in 2020!

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N.A.K