Comenius Project , Mirjam Koch
Victims of war
The worst thing about waiting was the above-average tense atmosphere that Laura was immensely aware of.
The whispers of the women, children and military higher-ups around her rippled through her body like electricity. She felt nervous and was constantly resisting the urge to run away, like something dangerous was coming.
Everything had been just perfect only eighteen months ago. She had been a young, optimistic woman in love. She and John had had plans of marriage and children.
All that seemed like another life now.
Laura couldn’t find a way to explain what had happened. To her John had always been impeccable.
He was intelligent, light-hearted, gentle, had a strong sense of justice and the right amount of pride. In all the years they had been together they hadn’t argued even once, until that day.
He hadn’t sought her opinion about it. He had said this was part of his own life which had nothing to do with her.
Though she had tried hard to change his mind he had been positive that it was right and just to wage war in a foreign country if it was with the intention to bring peace.
After one nightmarish week of fighting the topic had become a taboo. They had returned to their ways of a happy, loving couple, never mentioning it again.
And then he was gone.
Laura had been ripped out of the world she had known. Everyday had seemed like a dream to her, she was merely a ghost. The need to eat or sleep had steadily decreased.
The only light of her numb days had been his letters that represented her reality. Clinging to her perfect image of him, his upcoming return had been the only thing to keep her alive.
The plane had finally landed now and while the people around her rushed to the incoming soldiers Laura waited for him as he slowly made his way through the crowd. He stopped when he spotted her and her anxious eyes gazed into his dull ones for only a moment.
Then she turned around and walked away.