by Clayton Bauman

Created on: June 03, 2008   Last Updated: June 06, 2008

Kathryn sat up in bed panting furiously. She grasped next to her for Marcus but instead of the snoring body of her husband she felt nothing. That's when she remembered. She calmed down slightly and placed a palm to her damp forehead. With eyes closed she steadily reminded herself that Marcus was fighting in the war.

It had become a reminder that had become all too ritualistic for her nearly every morning since he had left nearly two-months ago. Sitting with her back to the head board of her bed, she reached for his picture on the night stand. Licking her thumb, she rubbed out a smudge that had caked itself onto the image from constantly picking it up.

As she stared longingly at it, a smell of burning wood caught her nose. Standing, she padded barefoot to the window, holding the picture of Marcus tight to her chest. The square was just slightly visible from her window. Opening it up she tried to get a better view. She could see two men on either side of two pyres holding torches.

"Oh noNot today, not again," Kathryn thought, a sick sinking feeling lodging itself in the pit of her stomach.

Loud sobbing caught her attention. Looking down, she saw Tawny Adams clothed in black, walking up the cobble stone path toward the square with two soldiers in dress garb at either side. Her two sisters flanked her supporting each other amidst sobs and chokes. Kathryn caught Tawny's glance for only a moment sending sharp chills down her back. Tawny's face was an expressionless wall devoid of any of the life she was known for.

Kathryn buckled to the floor and buried her head in her knees. Tears began to roll down her cheeks. Two unidentified bodies had made their way back to the town according to the news report the night before on television. A Farewell' was to be held at the town square.
"Not Tawny" Kathryn said aloud, her voice shaken.

Tawny and her husband Rick had been the first to welcome her and Marcus to the neighborhood. They all quickly became friends and would meet up to go out for dinner and a movie on a regular basis. They were one of the few young couples in the area so it was always a good time when they got to go out. At least that is, until the war started.
They never think of the loving price the wives might pay, Kathryn thought bitterly.

A loud voice echoed down the alleyway startling Kathryn enough to drop Marcus's picture.
"We are here to honor and remem" the voice had boomed before Kathryn slammed the window shut and closed the blinds.

She knew she couldn't handle

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