No smiles.
Just something cold.
« Do you think David was watching me? »
There was almost amusement in his voice.
I watched it.
« What does that mean? »
He leaned forward as far as the soldiers allowed him to.
« You still don’t understand what your husband was doing. »
Harris intervened.
« That’s enough. »
Julian smiled.
It was the first expression on his face that truly frightened me.
« Ask him where David spent the three weeks before his death. »
I watched Harris.
The general’s expression has changed.
With difficulty.
But I saw her.
« What is he talking about? »
« Colonel… »
« Where was David? »
« This is not the place. »
I approached him.
« You told me he died during a mission. »
» No. «
» Or ? «
Harris remained silent.
I felt the anger rising within me again.
« Where was my husband during those three weeks? »
Then a voice was heard on the captain’s radio.
« Perimeter secured. Arrival of command aircraft confirmed. »
Harris exhaled slowly.
« We have to leave. »
I didn’t move.
« Answer me. »
He looked at my family.
Then Julian.
Finally, he said softly:
« Your husband spent the last three weeks of his life in the United States. »
The room disappeared from my sight.
» What ? «
« He came home earlier. »
I could barely hear him.
« Was David here? »
» No. «
« How far away? »
Harris hesitated.
This hesitation hurt more than anything else.
« How far away? »
« Thirty kilometers away. »
My knees almost gave way.
Three weeks.
David was thirty kilometers away.
While I was sleeping alone.
While I was sending her goodnight messages.
While I was leaving her voicemails saying that the baby had moved for the first time.
He was here.
Alive.
Close enough to go home.
» For what ? «
My voice broke.
Harris lowered his eyes.
« He thought that going home would put you in danger. »
I touched my stomach.
« He never told me. »
« He couldn’t. »
I laughed once, but it wasn’t humorous.
« Everyone keeps saying it. »
Then the captain approached.
« Madam, the plane takes off in twelve minutes. »
Harris handed me another envelope.
« This comes directly from David. »
My hands were trembling when I opened it.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
Evelyn,
If you are reading this, it means I haven’t come home.
I stopped breathing.
The room fell silent.
I continued reading.
Don’t blame yourself for anything that happens.
Don’t believe the version of my death that was first given to you.
And, most importantly, let’s protect our child.
I suddenly looked up.
Harris said nothing.
I went back to the letter.
There’s a reason why I’ve stayed away these past few weeks.
There is a reason why the extraction order takes effect after my burial.
And there’s someone close to your family who knows more than they should.
My gaze turned towards Julian.
His face was completely white.
The last sentence was underlined twice.
But Evelyn, if anyone tells you I died before November 4th, they’re lying to you.
My heart stopped.
Military documents from the previous day indicated October 29th as the official date of David’s death.
I watched Harris.
November 4th.
Six days later.
« What does that mean? »
Harris did not respond.
I approached him.
