The Soldier

The Soldier

The envelope lay on the kitchen table unopened.

It was addressed simply to 'Amelia'.

Amelia stood looking down on it and held the delicate flower to her lips with both hands.

She walked slowly around the table and her gaze never left the envelope while she enjoyed the soft touch of the white and purple lisianthus.

It wasn't possible she knew. It was his writing but it couldn't be him. He was still overseas and wasn't due back for another week. The flowers had come a week earlier and were in a vase in the lounge with a simple message, 'To the most beautiful woman on earth'.

She ran a finger across the paper and smiled. He was always full of surprises.

The kitchen door burst open and a young boy rushed to one of the cupboards.

"Stephen!" she shouted. "Don't rush around like that. You scared me. What do you want anyway?"

Her brother reached for the cookie jar and shoved one in his mouth and another two in his pockets.

In a muffled voice he said, "A man knocked on the door and asked me to give you that letter."

"What did he look like," Amelia asked frowning.

"He was a soldier like Dave," Stephen said with a mouth full of cookies. Then he disappeared slamming the kitchen door shut behind him.

Amelia picked up the envelope and smelt it. There was a feint trace of aftershave which made her shudder with excitement.

She opened it and took the photograph out. It was a picture of David kissing a woman dressed in army fatigues with desert tents in the background. She turned it over puzzled.

'Saying it's over never was my strong point. Hope this is OK - Dave'