Branch Closure

Branch Closure
(146 words)
by Shirley Heelas1

Lucia reverently folded the cloth. The red stripe was faded, but the flag reminded her of home. Caressing the polished table, she remembered their customers back then, friends, family, sitting happily at rough-hewn tables. Only she and Bernardo had escaped, carrying the heavy burden of physical and mental scars.
She sighed. They had celebrated their first anniversary here, with toasts to the success of the new venture. Happy memories.
Such a different room to the one where Bernardo had proposed. Kneeling on the dusty floor, the sound of gunfire in the distance, he had pledged his love. “Till death us do part”. … And death had been so close.
An envelope lay torn open on the counter. The final appeal. Failed. Bernardo would follow her down shortly. She would have to tell him. The baby cried in the room above.
Lucia shivered. They were returning home.

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