Short Stories

War Within

Joshua pulled his car up to his small run-down apartment. He's been living alone for some time since his wife's death. There was no more warmth to come home to after work anymore. His beloved would never take walks with him along the beach or tell him she loved him in his ear, ever so quiet, again.

He felt broken. His heart would never be the same. Joshua slammed his car door shut and gloomily staggered to the door of his small apartment. Once he had entered he stopped glancing around the place he and his wife had picked out after their wedding. She had wanted to live in an actual house, but they could not afford it at that point in time. He has promised her they would move into a suitable home the following year after their wedding.

A cold draft entered the door, reminding Joshua he had left it open. His stomach growled as he locked himself in from the outside world beyond the apartment door. He ignored his stomach and sat heavily on the couch. He sat there for a bit until he finally laid down and let himself drown in his sorrow. He dreamt of his wife, Hanna, and the day they met.

Joshua was just coming home from war. Once he had graduated High School he left for the army. His parents were proud of him. He was proud of himself. When Joshua returned home from the war he was twenty-four years old. He waited at the airport for a ride home. His ride was running late so he decided to sit down and read a magazine that just happened to be below the seat he had sat down at.

As he sat distracted with the magazine a woman sat down next to him. She went unnoticed for awhile until something wet and hot hit his leg. He stood up abruptly more surprised than in pain.

"Oh my god. I am so so so so sorry." The woman next to him stood up dropping her coffee completely.

Sarcastically, without looking at the woman in front of him he replied, "oh no, don't worry about it. I suppose it's nice to have coffee spilled on me once in a while." He looked up. Her eyes stopped him in his tracks. Her hair, a bit of a mess, hung loosely in front of her face as she stared up at him and he stared down. She raised an eyebrow at him and moistened her lips.

"I'm sorry. It's been a long trip. I'm Joshua." He couldn't take his eyes off her.

"I'm Hanna." She smiled. "I'm so sorry. It's been a rough morning for me today. I really didn't mean to splash you with my coffee."

"No it's fine. You can make it up to me with dinner... if you're interested?" He blinked. Maybe he was coming on to strong.

She laughed. He fell in love with her. She fell in love with him. They were perfect for each other, but she left him to early in life. He was miserable.

He would do anything to have Hanna back.

His eyes drifted open.. as if he had been sleeping for a century.