Splinters In Time

Lawrence Gray was on a Navy boat off an island in the Pacific when it happened. The war was over, but he had stayed on, quite liking the travel and life at sea.

They hadn't been told much— anything really, just that there were some kind of tests going on, and that, when given the signal, they were to turn their backs and crouch down with their hands covering their eyes.

Crouched in his little corner of the boat, Lawrence still saw the great flash of light around his fingers, could feel the heat behind him, raining down on his back. A wild image pierced his mind, of the whole sky opening up and something looking at him. And just for a moment, like looking at an x-ray, Lawrence Gray could see all the bones in his hands.

***

They were married on a bright, sunny morning in the middle of May. The church bells were ringing merrily as Lawrence stood at the altar, dressed in his smart, black suit. His cousin was his best man— not the person he had necessarily hoped would stand up there with him, but they had grown close recently and Lawrence knew he could rely on him. Lawrence's mother sat in the front row, smiling wide, dressed to the nines in a confection-like dress of warm pink, her long, black hair pinned elegantly up under a wide-brimmed hat.

Then, the organ began to play and the church door opened.

She looked like an angel. Dressed all in white, her blonde hair was swept up softly around her face; her grey eyes were fixed on his from behind the veil that was draped lightly over her head. She wore a high-waisted gown of snow-white satin, the skirt long and full, the high collar sewn with lace and pearl buttons at the sleeves. A bouquet of red roses and lily of the valley was clutched in her hands, artfully arranged to cover her front.

She smiled at him and all of a sudden Lawrence felt rather hot, sweat beading on his brow. His cousin noticed and had to stifle a happy laugh.

The music swelled around them as this ethereal creature reached him, taking her place opposite. Lawrence felt weak at the knees. He almost couldn't believe that this wasn't a dream— and that he would wake up to find himself home alone in his bed, or in his cabin out at sea.

And then the music stopped and the vicar began to speak. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today..."

***

"—You'll never believe who Henry and I saw at the store today." Virginia Creel came through the front door, groceries in one hand and pulling her six year old son along with the other.

Sitting at his table, reading his paper, Victor Creel said nothing.

Virginia sent Henry off to play— he ignored all his other toys and went straight for the table to sit and draw. Turning her attention back to her husband, Virginia picked up as if she had never been interrupted. "Only the new Mrs Gray." She paused as if waiting for a reaction, then continued when she still got none. "I know how you and her husband used to be close. And I'll tell you what... now I know why they decided to get married so suddenly."

"Suddenly?" Victor muttered. "They've been courting for years. It's about time, by my reckoning."

"Well... all I know is, if they're calling that three months, then I'm Cleopatra."

Victor sat back in his chair, realising her meaning. "Really?"

"Really."

"Oh...Well, at least he did the decent thing. New wife, baby on the way, it's all turning out well for Lawrence in the end. Good, good, I'm glad to see it."

"The baby's dead." Henry announced in a deadpan.

Virginia's attention snapped to her son. "Henry! That's a horrible thing to say! Where did you hear that?"

Henry gave a small shrug. "It's true. The baby's dead."

A/N: See, told you Henry would be in it! He's made chapter 2! XD (Okay, admittedly it's not Jamie Campbell-Bower. In fact, Henry here technically is younger than he ever appears on the show. This is pre-them moving to Hawkins.)

So I just wanted to say, for the opening part of this chapter, I actually did reference some real-world events such as Operation Grapple to get the description. (Admittedly, I was inspired by watching Call the Midwife alongside Stranger Things.)
Whilst I've intentionally left it open to interpretation if Lawrence is involved in something nuclear or something a little more supernatural and Upside-Down, I did this to give it some realism and just thought it appropriate to make you all aware.
So basically, it's a fictional event based on a historical one.