Taylor stood beside the gaping mouth of the casket, willing her legs to remain still. Hours of shaking hands and accepting condolences had taken their toll, leaving her feeling frayed and her mouth drier than the desert that he’d been killed in.
‘They’re still out the door and down the street.’ A friend whispered in her ear. ‘I never knew Matt had so many friends.’
‘He was a soldier, Mel. Most of these people are just public wanting to do something to honor a fallen soldier. They don’t even know him, much less really care to. They’re just here for the show.’ Taylor sighed, turning to shake another hand.
The hand was strong, firm, and very familiar. She followed the hand to the arm and then up to the face. Her lips parted, but no sound emerged from her mouth.
‘I’m sorry for your loss, Ma’am.’ The heavy voice spoke as she met his eyes. HIS eyes…it couldn’t be. Her legs turned to jelly and she sank against the edge of the casket. No, this couldn’t be happening…it couldn’t be – be HIM.
Strong arms caught and supported to her as she felt the warmth of his breath, the brush of his mouth on her earlobe. His words were simple.
‘I’m alive, don’t worry.’
Taylor stared ahead in veiled horror, then turned to the casket and the poly-plastic reconstruction of what was once her husband’s face. It looked so real, so lifelike… Her mouth was suddenly so dry that she couldn’t even call out his name as she looked back and saw the man’s back disappear out the side door.
x
Braided Stars 
Holy Cow! That’s a cool story. One of those… “Please don’t stop, I want more” stories. “mouth drier than the desert that he’d been killed in”… nice line.
Wow! Now there’s a hook! Well done.
Non-friends showing up for the funeral of a non-dead soldier… Who’s zoomin’ who?
People who are not family and friends show up at soldier’s funerals all the time. It’s just something that happens. Now, the “dead” showing up at his own funeral…well, now that…
Wow. That was really a tale with a twist. Well done
I love the ending! Terrific twist.
Great twist! Left me wanting more.
niiiiiiiiice
Dude! I have to know what’s up with all that now!! (: Why’s he in hiding? A secret military thing? Or is it another lover? Gah!
IT’s up to you to decide… see where it will take you… there’s no real answer here.
Oh wow, the government faked his death. I smell the beginning of an epic tale.
Alas, someone who actually picked up on that one…
did NOT expect that! Oooooh, there is more to this story!
Really liked the part,”He was a soldier, Mel. Most of these people are just public wanting to do something to honor a fallen soldier. They don’t even know him, much less really care to. They’re just here for the show.’ The chilling idea of living dead was scary-loved the story:-)
Another irresistible cliffhanger. And her better have a good excuse… You know what they say about a happy wife.
Typo. I meant, “And he better have a good excuse.”