Declared Dead, Replaced by a Fraud
On one mid-autumn day, my national classified mission finally came to an end.
I dug out the phone I hadn't touched for four years, planning to call my wife, Nora Christie, and tell her that I'd be coming home.
But the moment my phone screen lit up, I saw a public court notice declaring me… dead.
I froze. Then, I looked closer. The person who had filed the petition to have me legally declared dead was Nora.
Frowning with confusion, I dialed her number.
With a soft chuckle, she brushed it off, saying that it must have been a clerical error by some court intern. Then, she asked when I would be coming home.
Just when I was about to answer, I heard a soft, restrained moan from Nora. "Ah, don't touch me there…"
Realizing something wasn't right, I told her that I would be back in a few more years before hanging up.
Then, I grabbed the medal I had earned from four years of service to my country, and took the next train home.
Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw when I arrived.
Right outside my front door, Nora was holding a wedding ceremony. The groom was Henry Crowley, the poor student I had sponsored!