 How does the war affect the protagonist’s relationship with his wife?
HOMECOMING BY MIGUEL HIDALGO What lasts forever? They were nearing a river; the water would be welcome on tired bodies and dry throats. Then both man and horse plunged headlong into the waiting torrent, deep into the cool embrace of the clear liquid. Refreshed and momentarily content, he sat staring into the dying fire, seeing the bright glowing coals as living fingers clutching at the wood in consuming embrace, taking all and returning nothing but ashes. Images began to appear, drawn from inexhaustible files, wherein are kept all thoughts, past, present, and future.... World War III had been declared, and he had enlisted, receiving his old rank of captain. When he opened it, he found a picture of her in one side, and in the other a picture of the children. He took her in his arms again, and loosened her long, black hair, burying his face in it for a moment. Then he kissed her, and instantly was drawn down into the abyss which seemed to have no beginning or any end. Three days later they had landed in Spain, merged with another division, then crossed the Pyrenees into France, and finally to Paris where the fighting had begun. The Russians had not yet used the H-bomb; the threat of annihilation by the retaliation forces had been too great. The very feel of the word was everything a battle-weary soldier needed to make him fight harder and live longer. When the all-clear had sounded, the men clambered from their shelters. Across the Atlantic, over the pole, via Alaska, the great bombers flew. In cities, great and small, the air raid sirens sounded, high screaming noises which had jarred the people from sleep in time to die. Those who had remained alive had found a resting place on the crown of some distant mountain. Most of the cities and the majority of the population of both countries had been destroyed. Even their governments had vanished, leaving a silent nothingness. The armies that remained were without leaders, without sources of supplies, save what they could forage and beg from an unfriendly people. They were alone now, a group of tired, battered men, for whom life held nothing. Their families had long since died, their bodies turned to dust, their spirits fled on the winds to a new world.
 She is transformed into a monster, striking fear in the protagonist.
 She waits at home like they planned, greeting them lovingly.  She is transformed into a monster, striking fear in the protagonist.  She is killed during the war, her body nowhere to be found.  She patiently waits for him at home.