LOVE IN DIFFICULT TIME

STAY HOME

Her hair swayed in the breeze, tickling the back of her neck

She was lounging in the hammock, under the tall beach tree

I could only see her back from where I was standing, but by the curvature of her neck I guessed she was reading

It had been 175 days since I’d last seen my wife

And now I was frozen, unable to move

She looked so peaceful, so beautiful

So soft and distinctly different from the active war zone I’d just left

And she didn’t know I was home

-Layla-

I spent most of my evenings in the hammock, enjoying the late August sun

Today I was reading, but sometimes I’d knit, or draw, or just watch the birds

I was trying to take my mind off the fact that it was my second wedding anniversary today, and I had no wife to spend it with

But all of a sudden I head a sound behind me, and turned my head

“Jasmine!” I cried, all but falling out of the hammock

She gave me the biggest grin I’d ever seen as she ran to steady me

I threw my arms around her, burying my face in her neck

And I started to sob with relief