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And yet the memories persisted, thrived in the dark, twisted recesses of his mind

Once he'd thought that talking about it htless, airless hospital roo to do but think about?dwell on-?the horror, he'd thought all he had to do was share his o away

Except there had been no one hom to share them No one ould listen He still reme months on the road between the hospital and horaceful mansion On bare feet that had walked hundreds of miles over rocky, dirty roads, he'd run to the front door

He told hireet hi home, after all They hadn't even known he'd been in the hospital They knew only that the war had been over for months, and neither of their sons had returned

At first the welco he'd hoped for His father and ing, laughing, weeping, welcoht of love A night that had given Jack his wonderful Katie

332

In the ed All it had taken was a single, casually spoken word "Hospital"

We thought you were a prisoner of war, son

Jack cringed even now, re shame he'd experienced at his father's quiet words

No, I was in a hospital

Where were you hurt? His mother's words, filled with concern

That had been the hardest question of all to answer He had no physical scars, no li limbs; no injuries of the kind they could understand and accept

He didn't blah it, and he couldn't understand

He'd tried his best to explain / don't knohat happened, Dad They shouted the order to attack But I I couldn 't move Then Johnny yelled to me, and I ran after him, but it was toolate He was dead After that, I woke up in the hospital?

You froze like soot a little bloody? His father turned away froust His voice had been full of quiet condemnation You 're no son of mine