The Cowardly Soldier

I'm sure you've heard the story of the cowardly lion but you've probably never heard the story of the cowardly soldier.

Once upon a time there was a soldier who fought in two different wars. He bravely left his family for two years to fulfill his duty to protect his country. 'That's my husband. That's my Daddy', said his proud family.

After he returned home from war, his wife and kids lived their lives from day to day never knowing that Daddy/Husband was building his own new secret life. Cowardly Soldier was brave enough to carry a gun but not brave enough to destroy his family until finally he decided that 'life is too short' and he pulled the trigger and imploded his family.

Cowardly Soldier left his home behind and barely talked to anyone from his old battalion. Long time comrades were ignored because Cowardly Soldier didn't want to discuss what he had done. Betrayed Wife can't (or won't) ignore comrades so she must decide on what tale to tell. Betrayed Wife also has to face the neighboring troops every day and explain why they won't be seeing Cowardly Soldier anymore. Cowardly Soldier can retreat but Betrayed Spouse is manning the homefront and must face everyone.

Cowardly Soldier wants to see the short troops one weekend so Betrayed Spouse says he can pick up short troop Son at his friend's house in the morning. Cowardly Soldier says let me think about it. He decides to pick up Son later in the day. The reason is not given but Betrayed Spouse bets that Cowardly Soldier doesn't want to face his son's friend's father and shake his hand. 

Cowardly Soldier hides in his bunker if there's any enemy mortar. He ignores emails about short troops' reactions to Cowardly Soldier's retreat. If Cowardly Soldier doesn't acknowledge the enemy then it's not there because so far the enemy has decided not to employ dirty warfare. Betrayed Spouse has to answer all the short troops' questions because Cowardly Soldier is MIA most of the time.

Cowardly Soldier detaches from his own family. Maybe there's a spy among them and they are not to be trusted. Or maybe they will perform an interrogation and question why Cowardly Soldier has acted out his battle plan. Cowardly Soldier knows he can't give in so he refuses to engage.

Betrayed Spouse can't sleep at night because she's worried about the welfare of the short troops. Cowardly Soldier never inquires about them. Does he think about them in his bunker and wonder if they are surviving? Betrayed Spouse doesn't know. Betrayed Spouse does know if you are the leader of troops you should do everything possible to protect those troops. No man left behind. Betrayed Spouse believes Cowardly Soldier missed that day of training.

Betrayed Spouse has never carried a gun nor fought in a war. But she is cleaning up the battlefield after a sneak attack that occurred so quickly it was like an explosion in the dark.

Betrayed Spouse feels a little guilty for calling Cowardly Soldier cowardly. But a friend told Betrayed Spouse that there is a difference between physical courage and moral courage. Betrayed Spouse would agree.

The End