One and the Same 7

 One and the Same

7

     What lays on top is a red-haired doll dirtied with time, that his dad has bought for him. The first Rosey a companion who would deliver his words to his mom in a far-off land. Albert smiles at it before setting it aside. A chain necklace is next, with the tags labeled "Angeline Wick", his mom had attached the circular engraving of Chael and Lorein his dad had given her on their wedding day. She had brought it knowing the government could stop them from bringing many things but they couldn't deny a traditional representation of the god and goddess of marriage and family. Albert sets the necklace next to the doll.

    The yellowed letters are the only thing left in the box. They're organized into two stacks one his dad wrote and the other is his mom's letters. His dad's letters are still in the neat stack his mom had bound together. Albert moves the stack onto his knees before turning to the set of papers lying flat at the bottom of the box. The writing on them is fading but he can still read his mom's quick hand. Albert gingerly moves each piece as he reads them. Each one is addressed to Sam and dated a few months apart. He stops at one that is dated almost a full year from the one before.

My Dear Sammy,

    The front is worse then I imagined. I never want to get use to seeing so much death, even the earth around us seems barren. We are lucky that our platoon is still whole but we have our share of injuries. Most are nothing serious, but Opal was too reckless and broke her leg trying to be a hero. Beth and I had to drag her back to camp while Edith, Rosanne and Minnie covered us. Edith scolded her from almost getting herself killed the while time she was getting medical attention.

    Rumors are circulation that we are being lied to, that this war is not expected to end, nor does the government plan to end it. In response they have sent our representatives to tell us what we are fighting for. The only one who believes his honeyed words is Opal. Luckily her leg will prevent her from doing something stupid in the near future. The rest of us just think of those we left, who pray for us, and wish for our safe return. Your letters of home give me the determination to keep me going.

    His eyes darken as they linger on the last paragraph. He leans back trying to push down his anger. He feels Margie's nose on his knee and looks down to see Margie nudging his dad's letters closer to the box. Albert smiles and pats Margie's head, "Thanks, Margie." She licks his hand before laying back down. Albert takes a deep breath and continues looking at the letters in the box. They continue to be dated far apart with only one or two in the same year. Each one is bleaker than the last. At the bottom of the box is a letter that stops mid-sentence. Dark red splatters trail from the top of the page blurring the black ink, leading to the reservoir covering the bottom. Albert stares at the page, his shoulders droop as weariness leaks out of him. Sadness gnaws its way through his heart but no tears fall as he trails his fingers down the blood-stained paper.

 

 

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The next post will be long because breaking it in two would mess up the flow of the argument.

       -Rose B.