Demon’s Sorrow

In the First World War, a devout man from Tennessee called Alvin York, who originally refused to get involved for religious reasons, made himself a name for outstanding bravery and effectiveness during the Meuse-Argonne offensive. He captured 132 German soldiers and single-handedly killed 20 more while he was left unscathed. Though celebrated for his achievements, York was tormented by the blood he’d spilled and often dreamt of a demon who claimed to have protected him from harm, and urged him to slaughter more enemies. Back in his home, he decided to confront this demon through a pilgrimage and realized that it was just the expression of his own bloodthirst. He swore off guns, introduced new schools to his community and never talked about the War again, but he continued to confront his inner demon and cried for the people he’d slain. Many years later, he finally told a friend about his struggle saying “I’m at peace now. Last night, it was the demon who cried.”