Looking off into the fire, his weary eyes gleamed. Old torn skin covered every inch of his flesh and showed the past in every wrinkle and scar.

The old veteran smiled slightly, memories flashing through his mind. The younglings  danced around the fire, holding hands and laughing much like he use to. He could still smell the smoke of cigars and cannon fire. Laughter from his comrades as they shared stories to alleviate the homesickness they all felt.

“Will you tell us a story now?” The young girl by his side looked up at him, a lollipop dangling from her lips.

Wide doe eyes of evergreen forests and richly, earth hair brought a knot in his stomach. How much such a child could bring the painful memories of a great loss. The cancerous disease tore through his wife’s body but even then she had the calm and reassuring smile on her face. Frail but beautiful like a seashell washed ashore yet his sickly wife had the heart of a lioness still inside her. It may have taken her body inch by painful inch but it never took her spirit.

The child awaited his response patiently. She gave a small smile in hope he would answer positively. As time ticked by, her smile stayed in place like time had froze in awe at the child. He could already see her grown with compassionate eyes and tender hands helping the weak and downtrodden.

“Of course, hun. Of course.”