Just as Lacy curled up by her open fireplace, a knock on the door disturbed her peace. Reluctantly, she opened the door, and soon wished she hadn't. "Hey,"
"Leave me alone," Lacy demanded, shutting the door.
"Come on, I just want to talk to you,"
"Fine, but if this is just some sick joke...," Lacy warned.
"It's not. I promise it's me,"
Emotions surged through Lacy, confusing her. That man, he claimed to be Adrien. He even looked exactly as he did when he left for war. Lacy knew this was far-fetched, but she desperately wanted to believe that he was here, more than anything she had ever wanted. Questioning the situation herself was pointless, she had no answers, but maybe Adrien did.
"How are you here? I received a letter saying-" Lacy mustered, choking back her tears.
"I, my team, we got blasted back by an enemy shell and most of us were injured. Two of our men fell and they mistook me for one of them. They must have sent out the letter before I got to the hospital. I'm sorry Lacy, I promise I was trying to find you, I promise. I guess here was the last place I would have looked; I mean we lived here together!" Adrien recited nervously. This sent Lacy into tears, her eyes stinging. She had never been in such emotional pain before; she loved this man and always had. To hear that he was alive, to see that he was here, was as much a distress as it was a joy. "I finally found you, but under a different surname. It was Beaumont, and I assume it was a mistake, right?" Adrien asked, his eyes growing wider with anticipation.
"Oh Adrien...I'm so sorry, I-I didn't-"Lacy cried, her face pale and tear stained.
"Hey Lace, I'm home!" A shout from the next room announced.
"Lace?" Adrien half laughed, but no smile could be seen on his face. Lacy hurriedly wiped her tears away and blew her nose. "Hey Marc," Lacy sniffled, looking pointedly at Adrien with a melancholy expression.
"Of all the people Lacy. I expected you to still have some standards," Adrien said sombrely.
"That's not funny," Lacy replied. "Marc, we have company! This is Adrien," Lacy smiled forcefully.
"Long time no see Marc," Adrien spat. Marc's eyes darted from Adrien to Lacy and saw how separated from the world she was. He put his arms around her and whispered into her ear, "What is happening?"
"Excuse me," Lacy coughed and left the room calmly. However when she was out of sight, she burst into a run up the stairs and into her bedroom.
Lacy turned into a child having a tantrum, and cried into her pillow, asking the world why this had happened to her. Her sadness turned into rage and she threw the nearest thing she could find at the wall. She quickly turned away and fell to her knees, her palms covering her face. Lacy felt uneasy with knots getting tighter in her stomach. Hands shaking, she reached under her bed and pulled out a shoebox. She tore of the lid which was sealed with a white ribbon, and grabbed the letter. As Lacy re-read the letter, over and over, she felt empty. She looked at the door and was surprised that neither of the men downstairs had come to check on her, considering the noise she was making. Lacy noticed the item she threw at the wall and regretted her actions immediately. It was a picture of her and Marc on their wedding day in a glass frame. It had shattered, leaving the floor as a glass minefield.
"Leave us alone," Marc ordered.
"You know, your 'Lace' said the exact same thing to me when she opened the door," Adrien chuckled.
"Then why haven't you left?"
"Good point," Adrien admitted, "But, I'm not leaving quite yet,"
"I've figured that out for myself. So, what do you want, money?" Marc questioned.
"Oh, so you still have plenty to roll around in? No, I don't want your money; I wouldn't make it that easy for you to get rid of me. Well, on second thoughts, money might help the situation. What do you think I really want, Marc?" Adrien mocked, playing his role well.
"Take any amount, but I know exactly who you want, and you're not getting her," Marc insisted.
"Why won't I? What's gotten you in a twist, do you love her?" Adrien contradicted.
"Yes, I do! If you take her, she'll go insane. She won't be able to cope!"
"You don't think I know that? I've been with her twice as long as you have,"
"You're a liar; you're not even him,"
"Prove it,"
Lacy took a few deep breaths and re-entered the living room. Marc and Adrien stopped their conversation abruptly, both looking intently at her. Marc cleared his throat, "Our guest was just leaving," Adrien gave them both a curt nod and left. "I hope you know he's lying,"
"You don't know that," Lacy mumbled,
"It's simply impossible. You can't deny that this is all rather mysterious and shifty. You don't know that he isn't lying either. He's only here to use you. Plus, he doesn't have that scar on his eyebrow anymore! Do you think scars disappear now? Look, I know you find it easy to trust people, but you need to understand the difference between being trustworthy and-"
"And what Marc? I would love you to finish that sentence," Lacy warned.
"It doesn't matter! I wasn't going to say anything!" Marc insisted.
"I need some air," Lacy murmured and stormed out of the room. She grasped for the closest coat as Marc was calling after her in the next room.
He shoved his hands into his pockets and reached for a cigarette and lighter. After a few attempts a flame emerged, and he carefully lit the cigarette. The dark smoke that left his mouth was carried away by the gusty wind, leaving no trace. However, the glowing cigarette left burnt ashes and umber all over the cobbled pavements. "Adrien?" Lacy inquired.
"Oh, did you come to tell me to leave the country?" Adrien joked.
"Why are you smoking? You've never smoked before," Lacy frowned.
"You can thank my battalion for that. I picked the habit up from one of them," He said while directing his eyes at the ground below.
"Anyway I came to give you this back," Lacy stated, handing him a ring.
"Is that mine?"
"Yes, one of your comrades came to give it to me. Apparently he found it next to your body..."Lacy trailed off.
"I can't believe you kept it! Thank you," Adrien replied gratefully, ignoring the importance of what Lacy said. He took the silver ring and began to place t on his finger. At the midpoint of his finger, the ring would go no further. It didn't fit on his finger. Panicking, Adrien kept trying to force the ring on his finger. Lacy's gaze fell to her shoes, disappointed. "Lucy- I mean Lacy, I don't understand. I guess my finger got bigger- or the ring got smaller! Are you sure this isn't your ring?"
"Positive. Will you leave me alone now?"
"What?"
"Adrien never gave me a ring. He couldn't afford one," Lacy sobbed. She burned with anger and began to quiver. "I hate you! Why did you want to hurt me! You never should have come here! I hate you!" Lacy screamed. Shocked, the man sprinted away, leaving his cigarette to be extinguished by the wet cobbles.
Lacy's screams and cries continued, growing quieter as the night went on. Marc rushed to comfort her as her screeches could be heard throughout the town, but Lacy violently shook him off. The shadows of the people peering around their curtains were visible in the dim light emitting from the streetlights. Rumours were brewing behind the scenes, ready to tear any happiness they had left to shreds. The war wasn't the only thing that tore people apart; it was also the history and memories it left behind. Many people suffered and many didn't realise how affected they were until they were tested.
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