anne stood up, smiling. her eyes were wide, and bright toward the future that would surely encounter her. the times were dark, but her mind was not.

nothing could bring her down, for she was the happiest. nothing at all. she gazed upon all the men seated below her, their faces dirty and dull, nothing for them to smile for anymore. they had seen death, defeat, hatred. they simple didn't want to smile.

"hello, all of you," she spoke, "i'm sure you're all wondering why i'm here." she hesitated momentarily, unfortunately allowing for a few insults to be spilled in.

"women. get out of here! only the real men know what they're doing!" one soldier grunted, standing up, glaring at her, "go away!"

he was quickly pulled down by his comrades, though they seemed just as angry. they were courteous, and kept their mouths shut.

"thank you for your input." the brunette took a deep breath, "yes, though i may be just a woman, i've faced treacherous that all of you have. i've seen guns point directly to me. i've seen men, crash before me on the battlefield. i've seen the glinting eyes of my enemies." she spoke, now feeling quite angry, and panicked at the same time. this was her home. "i've seen what was behind that battlefield lines. i've been tortured, i've been beaten."

they were silent as she took a deep, shaky breath, not wanting to again recount those terrible memories of being on the frontlines. she shuddered. they understood her, though differently.

"i understand, that not all of you do understand. how could i be a soldier? i'm a woman. i'll tell you something, i am a woman. but you know what, i've been to the battlefield, on a day much like this." she gestured to the sky, which was gray and cloudy, "but it was different. yes, i was a prisoner of war. i was helped by my comrades. they saved me."

the soldiers sitting in the crowd glanced at each other, fear in their eyes. they hadn't quite encountered someone like this. they'd never seen the permanent affects of war break down in front of them. they'd never seen a women like this.

"i'm colonel anne witicker. likely, i'm sure you think. ask your lieutenant colonel. he calls me ma'am, because i deserve it. i earned my rank, my name. none of you here could have ever dreamt it, as i stepped on the stage, i'm sure." the colonel stared pointedly at the soldier who had an outburst earlier. "after all, what am i but a woman?"

she enjoyed the looks on their shocked faces, as she always did. they never expected a women such as herself would ever be in the army, much less a higher rank than them. she was strong.

"now, as i leave you all, i want you to understand something: i did not come here with the intention of rubbing something in your faces. show your wives the respect they deserve. they are amazing, strong people. badass women. that's what they are. could you stand up, and take care of your children? could you, every day, clean and cook, and still greet your husband with a smile? i thought not. you know what, i balance a full time job with a family. because, guess who's married? me. guess who has three children who are here today? me. in fact, i'm married to no one important, who treats me with the respect i deserve. do that to your wife, will you?"

the murmuring began, as the soldiers began to talk among themselves, their words speaking of family, of their wives, of their sisters. they didn't realize the strength a woman could hold.

"good evening, you all," she spoke, smiling.

anne stepped down from the podium, hearing their confused applause as she left. she stepped behind the curtain, confident in the speech she made. she let out a small cough, and closed her eyes momentarily.

as she opened them, she was met with the colonel in charge of the base, his face red. he was angry.

"you say you're giving a speech about how they have to fight, and then you give them some sissy speech about how they should respect their wives? you are a sissy, witicker." he grumbled, glaring at her.

"i'd be quiet if i was you now, thomas." she spoke seriously, her voice steady. "i do have the power to remove you from your position of leadership."

he was about to blow a fuse. she always expected this, men being men. they always wanted to make themselves feel better. they'd always attack those they found to be weaker than them, whether it was true or not.

"you- i'm-" he stopped speaking, the steam practically erupting from his ears.

"i'd take a walk, colonel. before you blow a fuse." she spoke firmly. "leave."

the man angrily stomped off, throwing a fit.

"hello, children." she laughed, embracing her three young children: james, seven years old, mercedes, five, and lillian, just three.

"mummy, was that man going to hurt you?" james asked, glancing towards the colonel. "because i'd protect you, mummy."

"no need, james. mummy is okay. she doesn't need help." she laughed, smiling. "don't worry about mummy. protect your sisters, though. they'll always need your help. now come on. james, mercedes, lillian, come. let's go greet the soldiers."

the four of them walked around to in front of the soldiers, finding them talking amongst themselves. she couldn't hear their conversations, but could see their concerned expressions.

one soldier braved himself enough to walk to her, his hand shaking and his brow sweaty. his eyes were fearful, and a sergeant rank marked his lapel. she smiled to him, taking his hand, feeling it shake in hers.

"i-i, ma'am, i've seen war. i've seen the frontlines. i've seen what's behind them." he whispered. "i was a prison of war, ma'am. i just, i want...i want to sympathize with you, because i know what that's like. it's awful. the endless days. you're stuck in a loop of time. you're never going to escape."

"but you did. what's your name, soldier?" she whispered, smiling. "please, don't be nervous. there's no need. i'm sorry you were forced into this."

"i-i'm patrick, ma'am. patrick woodacre." he spoke, smiling sheepishly. "sounds a bit like witicker, no?"

she laughed gently. "yeah, a bit. it's not my original name. that's anne tirena. it's italian." she chuckled, brushing her hair from her eyes. "these are my children. james is the oldest, mercedes is the middle child, and lillian is just three. luckily for me, i've got another one coming."

she patted her slightly rounded belly, smiling as she ruffled lillian's blonde hair. "do you have any children, woodacre?"

"unfortunately, no, ma'am. i haven't quite been lucky enough to meet a man- i mean woman. sorry. i was a bit distracted, i've just remembered my sister's wedding is in a month. i won't be able to make it, unfortunately." patrick spoke, and anne could see him becoming more comfortable around her. "have you got any siblings?"

"yes. i've got one sister, mary. she lives back in london. she's married, expecting a child."

"that's nice. i've got seven siblings, four brothers and three sisters." his accent was a thick cockney. "i never thought i'd be here, again. at least, after i got captured the first time. it's really awful."

"i quite agree, patrick. every day, trapped in that confining space... it really drags you down. luckily, we were saved, and we're both here today." she offered him a comforting smile, knowing the pain he was likely going through.

"yeah. definitely." he muttered, looking around. "anyway, i better get back to my comrades. they'll be looking for me."

the clearing had quite emptied as the young soldier walked away, a slight limp in his gait. his shoulders were hunched, though he tried to stand tall, the weight of what the young man had been through was simply pressuring. he was unsure of how to deal with it. he was trapped.

anne understood him, really. she had been imprisoned for months by the germans, and, unfortunately for her, was fluent in german, and able to answer their questions. she resisted, however, and never spoke. they never got her secrets, the words of her country.

she had been endlessly tortured, day and night. she had been starved, burned, suffocated. they had shoved her in water, filled with ice. slapped her across the face. they'd even shot her in the leg, in a desperate attempt to get information. the pain was almost unbearable to think of, and just remembering it caused a tear to slip down her face, unnoticed by her children.

"now, come on, children. it's time to go home. in the car, now." anne ushered her young children toward the black vehicle, seating them down gently, getting in the driver's herself. "we're going back to see daddy! are you all excited?"

"yes, mummy!" mercedes chirped. "let's go!"

anne did not respond, merely starting up the car for the drive home.