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It all started when I came home from the great war across the ocean. The town seemed quiet at first, but I wasn't ready for what I found out next. You know how things tend to go awry, well things went something in that order. I came home to see my wife, give her a secret surprise welcome home gift. I was excited about this, figured we would end up moving around under the sheets like the wild animals we used to be. Then maybe have a conversation, cuddle up... Do all the right things in the right order, maybe even end up asking her renew our vows.

Go straight to where you always found her when you came home from work
I told myself. She'll be there waiting, as usual. I walk in the front door, turn the corner. Funny feeling goes through my body, like a cold chill on a hot summer day.
It's nothing I tell myself, she must still be in bed. That's it she's still in bed,
but it's one in the afternoon. I walk into the bedroom, and there she is. I drop my bags, she looks up at me. So does the guy she's sleeping with, in our bed. Funny, I never figured her to be doing this, not in a million years.

I turn around to get out of there as fast as I can, but before I do... I get a good look at the assholes face. It's Tom McClarity, an old buddy of mine from the war. He got sent home early because he had gotten a fractured leg. It doesn't look fractured, that a*****e set this up. "I thought you were dead!" She screamed out to me. I kept walking, feeling sick, the road ahead seems to get longer, duller. I must keep moving I tell myself.

After what seemed like hours I make it to the bar. Alcohol always seemed to be there for me when no one else was. Tom comes in, sits next to me and orders a drink, all while seemingly acting like nothing had happened. "Your wife is pretty good in the sack." He tells me, putting a cigar to his lips and lighting it. "A real doll she is. Must have made her feel like a hooker when you walked. After I convinced her you died." He laughed a moment unfoiling his plot to me. Turns out he thought of his injury as my fault, leaving him there when we were surrouned by the enemy. One man lives, another dies. I had more to lose than this washed up loser. He had no wife, no future, he was a washed up used car salesman that couldn't keep the rent to his appartment down. "Give me one good reason I shouldn't bust your skull in right here and now." I said to him. I looked at him, calm, clear. I took the cigar from his mouth, put it out on his arm. "You disgust me, coming in here trying to pal around as if nothing happened." I stood up, grabbed the collar of his shirt. "You're still that scrawny little soldier that couldn't handle himself on the battlefield. Yet you come here, and make your own new battlefield." I drew my fist back and punched his lights out, his body slumped to the ground. His eyes seemed dazed, as if he were high on drugs, nose bleeding. He looked as if he were supposed to.

I went home to my wife, now understanding the full scare of what happened. Knowing what fears went through her mind, hearing of my 'death' how scared that poor beautiful woman must have felt. I took her in my arms, and kissed her, letting her know. Letting her know that it wasn't her fault. We went back to the way it should have been. Fooling around in bed, having a conversation. Renewing our vows. Tom, no one knows what became of him. He skipped town soon after I set him straight. As for the town itself, I can't really explain how it's changed. Can't decide if it's a good change, or a bad one. Maybe you should come and decide for yourself some time. One rule if you do, touch my wife and you'll be skipping town too.