Husband
A short story written in five minutes, inspired by the word "Husband"
Anna was walking down the dark alley. She used to return home very late on Sunday, after her long visit to the cemetery to see her beloved Marco.
Every Sunday Anna brought fresh flowers, a cloth, a small folding chair, and a box of chocolates.
The fresh flowers went into the pot, taking the place of those of the previous week.
With the cloth, she cleaned the marble slab and the picture of Marco on it.
Then, sitting on the folding chair, Anna spent the entire afternoon talking with Marco, telling him about her week, eating the chocolates they both loved.
That evening, Anna was walking slowly. The pain in the legs was tormenting her and the folding chair was becoming heavier to carry week after week.
She was tired and didn’t notice the man approaching from behind.
She felt herself being grabbed by the hair and pressed against the wall. The gleam of a knife. Breath stinking of alcohol.
“Keep quiet, old hag.”
But Anna yelled.
An hiss.
When she opened her eyes, the man was running away with her purse. She looked around, surprised. She touched herself. Then, she saw him.
Marco was smiling at her. He was standing there, young and beautiful.
“Darling” she whispered “you came to protect me.”
They hugged and left, weeping softly.
The next morning, the police found Anna’s body in the alley. She had a large, serene smile on her lips.