“Over There”
By Stephen Mars
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2012 Stephen Mars
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
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The air whistled on a frigid December day. Nothing stood between Corporal James Crews and the game he was about to take home as a trophy. The rifle fired and a cloud of smoke rose up into the bare trees. The young doe then dropped to the ground with a faint cry. Limping over, James stood in front of his catch. In a few short breaths the deer was dead. It's eyes forever stared off into the distance. With his six foot four, two hundred and fifty pound frame James grabbed the small doe by the neck and lifted the carcass on his shoulder. He did not look forward to the walk back to his car. Two feet of snow lay on the ground and with each step he felt himself sinking deeper and deeper. James wanted to quit right then and there after just a few steps but he knew he had to keep moving. He had to fight through it if he wanted to bring the meat home to the butcher where he'd get a nice sum to bring home to his family. James loved his family and not a second went by without him thinking of them. He thought of his wife, Catherine and her long blonde hair. Of Jenny, his newborn daughter, and the innocent sounds she'd make when he'd smile down on her. And who could forget Sparky, the lovable if not borderline crazy Labrador retriever who’s been at his side since he was a teenager? The thought of being home in front of the fireplace with his family and a nice check in his hands warmed his heart. After about half of mile of what seemed like endless trudging, James felt his right knee buckle under him. He fell to the ground, dropping the dead doe into a bank by a wide oak tree. He pounded the snow with his rough hands in frustration. There was no way he was going to bring home that sack of meat now. Even if he tried dragging the deer the effort would be futile. The pain in his knee cap was sharp. It reminded him of the time he stepped on a bee as a kid. The same stinging pain shot into his bones. James sighed. If only he hadn't gone to war, he thought. If only he stayed home and got some retail job it would have been enough to provide for them. If only he hadn't got injured and become a useless cripple over there… James tried to stand up with his strong leg and after a few attempts he balanced himself. He walked a couple steps and realized that he could make it back to camp. He felt empty without the doe on his shoulder though. The trip had been a waste of time and his entire family would see him as the failure that he was. James picked his rifle up out of the snow and continued his trek back to his car where he hoped his leg would be good enough to drive home. "Help!" suddenly screamed a voice. James lifted his gun into the air and ran forward to the sound of the cry. Every jogging step felt like taking that mortar shell to the knee over and over again. James stopped in his tracks when he saw it. In the middle of a small frozen lake was a gaping hole where blocks and shards of ice floated in the water. James moved forward but his leg buckled once more when he stepped onto the surface of the frozen lake. Feeling his arms burn and his legs go numb, James crawled his way toward the hole and pushed one arm through the center. After waving his arm around in the water for what seemed like minutes, he felt a slight tug grab at his sleeve. Ignoring the pulsing pain throughout his body he reached with his other arm and pulled with all his might. The next thing he knew he was on his back and a shivering young woman lay on the surface beside him. "TT-hh--ank you." she said. "No problem." said James looking up at the white sky. His entire body felt numb with pain. The world around him seemed separated from himself like never before. The young woman stood up and twisted water out of her long brown hair. James was surprised to see that she was pregnant and wore a cloak that looked like she was out of the middle-ages. "You passed." she whispered. James got to his feet and looked around. "What do mean?" he said. The woman reached out her hand. Her fingertips were pale and wet but warm to the touch. "Who are you?" asked James. The woman smiled and put his head in her hands. "Walk with me." she said looking into his eyes. She turned around and walked off the surface of the lake. The woman clasped her hands together and walked into the forest. James followed her not knowing what to expect as a ray of light engulfed him.
The End
Stephen Mars is a college student living in New England. Currently studying for an English degree, he likes to write short stories of all genres and is currently working on a full length novel.
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