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Context: The Civil War rages as you wait at home for the return of your husband, Conner, as well as a childhood friend named Aiden. Today may very well be the day you see your beloved men again, and you hurry to the door to embrace them... only to find one of them missing.

Setting: A Southern plantation home

Tags: [M4A][Friends to More?][Civil War Soldier Speaker][Southern Belle(?) Listener][Widow][Cuddles][Comfort][Reverse Comfort][Loss/Death][Romantic Tension][War][CW: Death/War]

Usage: You may tweak or record this script. Gender flipping is OK! Please credit me if you use this script in any of your projects. If you would like to use this script for a paywalled recording please DM me first. Thank you :3

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[A] = Aiden, a childhood friend (marked in case a VA wants to improv)

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Note: You have my full permission to make Conner and Aiden Union soldiers instead if you prefer

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[Scene opens in a Southern manor late into the Civil War]

[SFX: A horse whinnying]

[You’re drawn from your work as a horse whinnies loudly outside and you hurry from the room, expecting your husband]

[SFX: Hurried footsteps and doors being flung open]

[You fling open the doors, arms open, and leap into the arms of-]

[A] “Ah! Willow, I gotcha!”

[You look up into the flustered face of Aiden, a friend from both your and your husband’s childhood]

[Pause!]

[Aiden returns your embrace warmly, holding you close]

[A] “I’m gonna guess that big old hug was intended for Ol’ Conner, hm? You haven’t jumped into my arms like that since we were young ‘uns.”

[Pause]

[A] “Is Conner w-with me…? I, ah… Let me carry you inside so we can talk…”

[...]

[A] “Is… is everything OK? I… No. No, Willow, I… I’m so sorry… we got hit by a surprise ambush when we were marching to the next post. The Blues jumped us… I… I was the only one that made it out, and I ran straight here to tell you. I-I… I’m so sorry…”

[...]

[A] “I’m s-sorry… I should have eased into it b-but I knew that it’d be less painful if done quickly. Oh, gods, here! Here, I have you… P-Please sit, you nearly fainted just there. There… there you go… I’ll ask about some water if you…?”

[Pause]

[A] “How did he…? W-Willow… please don’t do this to yourself. I know you, I know you will torment yourself by thinking of every little way you could have saved him. This isn’t… there’s nothing you could have done. It was… it was quick, as best I could tell…”

[...]

[You fall limp against him as he sits at your side, numb]

[A] “Shhh… I have you. I’m right here, my Willow. Ah, may I… Is it OK if I rub your back?”

[Pause]

[His callused fingers gently rub your back as your head swims]

[A] “Hm? Oh, no, no, don’t fret, love. I’m not going anywhere until I am certain you are alright. I-I… gods, I can’t believe… He was telling the bean can story just before we set out. I couldn’t stop laughing, per usual… it’s, ah… it’s weird to be laughing while sobbing, isn’t it?”

[Pause]

[Aiden’s voice cracks and he breaks with you. He holds you tight and you hold him]

[A] “I just… Conner was my brother in all but blood and I-I… I wish we’d been able to make amends with each other before he… Gods, it was such a stupid argument!”

[Pause?]

[A] “What was the argument about? It’s… not anything important, really. I just told him I didn’t like how he talked to you sometimes… It was dumb, I know. We’ve all known each other since we were kids, Conner’s never been the sort to do tongue lashings.”

[Pause]

[A] “I’m sorry, my garden rose. I-If… If I’d just been faster-!”

[He breaks down again, holding you close. You see a few people peering at the two of you with the standard judgemental stares reserved for a widow getting too cozy with another man]

[Pause]

[A] “Really? You… You trust that I did my best? Hm… One of the many reasons I adore you so much, my rose. Even in agony, you still stop to make certain others are soothed first. May I carry you to bed? I suspect you will want to rest and… mourn.”

[Pause]

[A] “I don’t mind. I know your ankle is still weak from where you twisted it a few years back. Here…”

[Your old friend picks you up and easily carries you upstairs to your quarters]

[SFX: A bed creaking slightly]

[A] “There we go… I can stay with you for a bit, but if the workers will talk if I spend the night, even just to cuddle or hold your hand. I know you don’t care about rumors but I don’t want you to have any more on your shoulders than is necessary.”

[Pause]

[A, with a gentle, sad smile] “You’re welcome, my rose. If you want to tell me stories of him, I’ll listen… no matter how much it hurts.”

[To be continued]