She Who Claims to be a Monster

The end of war did not signalize the end of suffering from common folk. Indeed, they were able to greet those who survived - fathers, brothers, sons and husbands, but alas only the small minority could celebrate their return. Families of soldiers who were awaiting the return of their heroes were usually met with listless gazes from those who had fought alongside them. It was a tough task to inform the parents and children of your comrade that he did not survive - he was killed, with the body either buried in an unnamed grave or even consumed by beasts and slowly decaying away due to exposure to nature.

Soldiers were not allowed to rest in peace after bloody battles. They were greeted with tears and curses of those they vowed to protect. They were suffering from memories of hell that weighted down their shoulders and pierced the scars received in battle, both physical and mental ones. The unpredictability of a veteran also led people to avoid them, deeming them crazy and unfit for society. Thus, they could only spend the rest of their days as hermits, cocooned in grief and sorrow.

Of course, not everybody suffered the consequences of war. Some were fortunate enough to keep their minds sound and reintegrate into society. They were able to have dinner with their parents, children, and friends once again, telling stories of battlefield cruelties and sharing a laugh, knowing that it was nothing more than an unattainable past. They could sleep peacefully, undisturbed by the sound of a falling pan, let alone the rage they felt during years of hell. Their lives could continue normally, as if nothing had ever happened, with only vague, haunting memories lingering in the deepest corners of their minds.

Unfortunately, another cruelty was prepared by faith to those who have survived. A deadly epidemic crept into many European households. Initially, it did not cause much alarm, as people were preoccupied with either mourning or celebrating the war's outcome. But when they took a notice of the revenging disease, it was already way too late. 

The first notes of the new virus spreading were reported in Spain, thus the disease itself received the name of Spanish flu. However, first cases were reported as far as in the USA. A selective few were aware about the nature of the disease, but they decided to stay silent to hold morale at a high note. It was a noble cause, which resulted in millions of deaths throughout two years, until mother nature took a pity on her naughty creations and a miraculous mutation caused a drop in flu's severity.

After enduring these deadly trials of war, famine, plague, and death at the beginning of the 20th century, relative peace finally descended upon the people, allowing them to breathe a sigh of relief. The works of restoration began in major war-torn nations like France, Germany or Russia. There were struggles among common folk inside those countries, but overall, difficult situations were manageable. Not a single soul shirked from their responsibilities, whether to help themselves or society, aside from one particular gal that lead the whole nation through the war. 

The saint of the la Avise, at first, returned to the main household of their family in Switzerland, but soon after disappeared into thin air. It caused a massive paranoia among members of the family, their precious gem "The Saint" was gone without a trace! Extensive search missions were conducted across Central Europe, with aircraft and fleets of rare Peugeot cars moving from country to country and city to city. This instilled fear in those who were still haunted by the horrors of the past. While afraid of the echoes of war, they took refuge in basements or left their homes in preparation for the worst. Fortunately, for those unfamiliar with La Avise, nothing serious occurred.

The gal, though, had not ventured too far. From Bern, she went to the small town in Eastern France. There were no ill intentions in her mind, her sole goal was to visit a certain individual, whose name would be engraved twice in history books. First, as a coward, but later as a hero.

The woman knocked on the door to the modest mansion. Her effort echoed from inside, and soon, heavy footsteps approached, and the door was opened. A tall figure of a middle-aged man appeared in the doorway. He was yawning and holding a cup of coffee, despite the sun being at the zenith. His eyes lazily scanned over the lady, whose appearance awakened him better than any coffee ever could.

"What in the world are you doing here!?" the man whispered angrily, to which the woman coldly replied, "After spending days and nights in thought, I finally came to the conclusion… I am indeed a monster."

The man took a sip out of the cup and hummed. His eyes were avoiding her pale face, however, he still grasped her feelings and regretfully said, "You kids are going to drive me crazy. Come inside, let's hear more of your bright thoughts."

The woman, who claimed herself to be a monster, stepped inside the house of a veteran. Their lengthy discussion remained a secret, known only to those present, though not just between the two of them but rather among the four individuals.