Tunnel of Death
On a cold Winter day, the couple went for a walk.
Shelby and Andrew held hands, and their talk
soon turned to starting a family. Shelby wanted
children, but Andrew's smile disappeared, daunted
by her eagerness since they married two years ago.
"Slow down, Shelby. I thought we'd take it slow."
Her heart beat quickened, annoyed at his reply.
Thunder rumbled, and dark clouds filled the sky.
Raindrops felt like knives piercing Shelby's face.
They sheltered in Rank's Tunnel, a cold, dismal place.
Her tears of sorrow showed the depth of her pain.
Andrew said, "We're gonna go through this again?"
She reminded him they agreed before they married,
to have children, but Andrew turned away, harried.
"Andy, tell me what's made you change your mind?"
He had to confess his affair. To that he was resigned.
He told her of his adultery. There was more to say,
but Shelby was devastated and tried to run away.
Andrew reached for her, but he slipped and fell
on the tunnel floor, where water began to swell.
His head was bleeding, he was alive but dazed.
Shelby reached for a rock. In anger and half-crazed,
she struck the wound again and again. How he bled!
Andrew's body was limp, and she knew he was dead.
The rain continued falling; water rising in the tunnel.
It was swiftly moving, like a small stream, a runnel.
Shelby walked away, not regretting what she'd done,
glad that she hadn't yet told him she carried his son.
She reported him missing, and when he was found
it was deemed Andrew had hit his head and drowned.
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