There have been any number of times when spouses have sadly watched their partner march off to war, and their fear is often that they will never return. It has happened plenty of times, but it can be even worse when their spouse comes home missing pieces of their body. Those who are lucky enough to get their spouse back in one piece might find their mind has gone elsewhere, and that can be difficult for the couple. All of these scenarios have played out over the centuries, but there are still some happy endings for those who are able to look past what has happened to them.
Missing Limbs
War is not a delicate process, and maiming soldiers on the other side has often been considered a good way to win a battle. If they are unable to fight, then subduing the enemy has a good chance of success. Military weapons are designed to kill and maim opponents, but they take a huge human toll. Going home with missing limbs has often been the fate of soldiers, and their spouses must help them learn to adapt to a new life. Those with a deep and abiding love have often found ways to make their life together a success, and their ability to be supportive of each other has given them a way to continue their relationship in a more mature fashion.
Surviving the Horror
The malevolence of war has long been known in an academic way, but only those who have lived on a battlefield know how truly frightening it can be. Some of them have been able to put their sights and sounds into a locked room in their mind and go on with the rest of their life. For those unable to do that, surviving the horror includes living with it even after they come home. Their spouse might be able to help them with words of love and physical comfort, but they might also need professional help. Those who want their relationship to continue can find ways to support each other through the aftermath.
Healing the Wounds
While not all the damage to a person on the battlefield is physical, much of it can be of a limited physical nature. Some people will have shrapnel embedded in their bodies, and others will have multiple wounds that need only time before the body compensates. For those who come home only temporarily damaged, healing the wounds will take a caring spouse and time. the love the couple has for each other can manifest in many different ways, but patience is often what matters most.
Watching a loved one march off to war often means being ready to be notified they will not be coming back again, or a spouse can find only part of them will ever return. Finding ways to cope with the damage often involves being supportive, but love and trust between the couple is most of what they need to begin the healing process that will get them past the physical and mental damage to continue the happy life they planned together before the call to arms was issued.
