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Annie's ship returns- Short Story Fiction
" Annie it's time to wake up, breakfast is ready. "
Annie remembers being on fire with wanton desire as she stood by the sea-side, watching her lover, Victor board the ship that would take him far away to a raging war.
The year was 1941. He turned and blew a kiss into the wind. She held on to it until her hand became so crippled, she had to let it go.
Years passed without a word. She wondered if the ship went down at sea, or did he die from artillery fire, his body buried at sea?
As the years passed. She never missed a day walking down to the sea-side. With age came the crippling rheumatoid arthritis. Walking became almost impossible without the hand walker.
She turned and walked back up the winding hill to a place she'd lived the past five years, The Rest Haven Manor nursing home.
She waited patiently for her nightly medication that allowed her to return to a time before the war.
Victor was her only lover. They talked about marriage but decided to wait until the war was over. In her dream they were together chasing each other on the beach, building sand castles in the sand. Their nights were full of passionate kisses and ecstasy.
" Annie time to wake up, breakfast is ready. " She reluctantly let the aide help her get dressed for another boring day. After breakfast she walked down the hill to feel the sea-breeze on her wrinkled face.
She heard her name " Annie " She saw a ship in the distance and Victor was holding out his arm's and smiling. He looked exactly the same, young and so handsome. She started walking toward him. She looked down at her hand's holding the walker. They were young and beautiful. His ring on her third finger, left hand sparkled from the glow of the sun. She hadn't worn it for years because of painful swelling, He reached out and held her in his arms. They were together again. Time had stood still.
The evening news reported, " Annie Mc Daniels a ninety year old resident of The Rest Haven Manor nursing home apparently drowned. Her walker found floating at sea-edge. Attempts to locate the body, unsuccessful. What a tragedy!
Or was it?
