David approached the tall war memorial and began to read the list of names. Many of them were too covered in moss and lichen to make out the inscriptions.  A lot of them had Christmas wreaths of holy and ivy with blood red berries flecked with snow and crisp chrysanthemums in pots. His brother was there, just seventeen when he had joined up, and his Uncle in spite of his poor health.  He kept looking. It was a lonely place on a bleak hillside. The only sign of life was a dark figure in a trench coat standing alone. Plumes of smoke were rising into the air from his pipe. He turned and made his way towards David stopping a few feet away. David looked at him stunned. An apparition! It could not be.

‘I knew you would come,’ said the man calmly, holding his pipe away from his lips.

David’s eyes were wide. He was silent for a moment then he spoke.’ I came to find you!’
‘I’ve been looking for you too,’ said the man. I know you have been out drinking.’ He stopped because he saw the sadness in David’s eyes as he observed the twisted platinum wedding band.

‘I should have expected that,’ said David coldly.

‘It’s been years.’

‘I know, I counted every birthday.’

The snow was falling quite heavily now and the man’s pipe had gone out.

‘I should be going, it’s getting dark.’ David hastily put up his umbrella and began walking away but the man called after him,’ I’d like to see you, out of the village. People talk.’
There was no reply. He watched David crunch through the snow and close the gate behind him.