*This story was also going to be submitted to Esquire’s Aspen Short Fiction Contest (see previous post), but then I found out that I could only submit one entry. Had I known that, I’m not sure which I would have submitted, this one or Short Story No. 2, but the choice had already been made for me. So this is the first publication of The Surprise Red Homecoming.
His flight. Red-eye. Diamond ring, in pocket. Flowers. Red roses. Chocolates. Her favorite. Gifts from Iraq. Taxi cab. Dress Blues. Butterflies. Six months. “I’m home!” Hopes up. Moaning. Heart drops. Stealth. Bedroom door. Ajar. Stranger. See red. Whiskey and gunpoint. Trembling. Tears. Insanity. Squeeze. More red. This time it is real. A shovel. A hole … two of them. Golden Gate Bridge. Four a.m. More whiskey. Sans gun. Red eyes. Drenched face. Sweet release. Last glance. Red bridge.
