Man at War – Excerpt No. 55

4 November 2025

Every so often Murphy would sneak a peek at that picture. The man was trying to be discreet, but to a vampire it was plain as day. Marc figured it must have been out of character for a Colonel to have at his desk, and the Sergeant was probably right.

“Anyone back home?” Marc asked.

The sudden change in subject caught Murphy by surprise. He paused for a moment and even blushed as though ashamed about his curiosity.

“I… was married for two years but she died of consumption.”

a cinematic photo of a man with a gentle face, sad eyes, and a weary expression, sitting at the bedside holding the fragile hand of his wife, who is lying weak and dying from consumption, her skin pale and clammy, her eyes sunken, in a dimly lit room with a single window in the background, the year is 1910, the photography style is in a melancholic and nostalgic tone, with a warm and muted color palette, the man's attire is formal, with a suit and tie, while his wife is dressed in a simple yet elegant nightgown, the overall mood is somber and heartbreaking, with a focus on the emotional connection between the couple.

Disclaimer: This novel is an work in progress and readers may encounter grammatical errors and inconsistencies. Please view this a draft and not a published work.