What a Leader Becomes

I didn't post Round 5 - the World War I soldiers bury the dead on Christmas Day in 1914. (Not exactly what people want to read for Christmas.) Some of the dead had been in No Man's Land for an extended period of time. Sophy couldn't handle watching it and she turned away. This is what most of us would do, but there are a few who don't. They become the needed presence of strength, support and compassion.

Sophy says, "I can't watch this," and Gary replies, "It was part of the truce." The sound of his voice catches Sophy's attention. He spoke with Truth. She looks up at him and his attention is with the soldiers - the living and the dead - in No Man's Land. Gary sees something she can't see, and Sophy returns her attention to the soldiers in the field. She looks again because of Gary. Sophy can only see one moment, and in that one moment she sees the truth. It's too intense and Sophy must turn away, but she gains a new awareness. What will she do with it?

That flash of a moment found its way onto the paper in early December. Five months to write a few sentences. Even I learned from the process of writing 'Illumination Rounds.' It's just a draft, but with an editor and a few subject matter experts, it can be so much more.