Necessary Heartbreak Read Online Free PDF

could help himrationalize what he was seeing. “But I don’t know what’s going on there. That town always has something going on.”
    The uncertainty of everything made him grow angry again at Elizabeth. Turning to her, he whispered, “Why didn’t you listen to me? Why did you go in this forsaken tunnel and scare me? Do you know what my life would be like without you? Do you?”
    â€œI’m sorry!” she exclaimed. “I wanted to see what was down here. There were all sorts of great drawings all along the tunnel.” To make her point, she shone the light on the side of the wall, illuminating pictures of men being pulled in chariots.
    â€œInteresting.”
    â€œInteresting? I thought you loved history. Look at this one.” Elizabeth turned toward the other side and sprayed the wall with her penlight.
    Michael bent down to get a closer look. “It looks like a soldier putting a spear through a man’s heart,” he said, revolted.
    â€œThat’s what I thought.”
    Michael rubbed his hand along the wall. “That’s odd. This feels like it was drawn recently.” He looked up again to the street. “It looks so real.” Then he turned and looked back at the darkness of the tunnel behind them. “We should go back.”
    But his attention was drawn to the crowd above them. They could hear gasping and shouts as a man was dragged by a soldier through the streets. The man’s robe was bloodied and torn, and he had shackles around his ankles. He was badly bruised, with a large, bleeding gash in his right shoulder.
    Michael was a big fan of history. It was probably the only subject in school that he had really enjoyed. He was always fascinated by famous people and events from the past. It showed in his schoolwork—it was the one subject he didn’t have to worry about repeating in summer school. He stared in awe.
    â€œWow, Elizabeth. Look at the metal spears. They look so real. These guys totally look like they’re Roman soldiers from those documentaries I watch.”
    Elizabeth was unimpressed. She was more interested in the clothes.“How could kids back then enjoy these clothes?” she asked, shaking her head. “I bet these guys will probably be happy to get home and change. And look at the girls. Their faces are all covered up.”
    â€œThey’re just veils.” Michael laughed nervously. This was almost too real. He glanced over at Elizabeth and saw her mouth drop. She covered her eyes and looked away.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?”
    She pointed through the grate. Three soldiers had gotten off their horses and were poking the man in chains with their spears. The roar of the crowd grew louder.
    Michael again felt a surge of panic but tried to keep his tone light. “It’s just playacting.” He craned his neck to get a better look and saw one soldier stab the man in the leg, causing him to scream in pain as blood gushed from the wound. The other two soldiers started beating him on the back with the shafts of their spears.
    â€œNo!” Elizabeth yelled before Michael could put his hand over her mouth.
    â€œShh!”
    She pulled away from him. “Dad, we’ve got to do something!”
    The soldiers hit the man in his back and legs repeatedly. He lay on the ground trying to cover his head with his hands.
    This can’t be real
. “Maybe that’s fake blood?” Michael suggested. “You know, like the blood you see in the movies and on television?”
    â€œIt looks real to me.”
    Michael felt helpless. “What kind of play is this anyway? I can’t believe the town approved this kind of street play. I’m sure the cops are going to stop it. Those people out there should be doing something. But they’re all standing around like nothing is going on.”
    â€œWe’re doing nothing, too, Dad!”
    Michael could see the fear in his daughter’s eyes as