two men appeared around the turn in the road behind them , galloping towards the battle from the south , swords raised high . this time , shelly laughed at him . taking a deep breath , she read the first line : today is my first day as a free woman . the last time i recalled seeing eyes so warm was back during the peace , love , and rock and roll days of the late 60s before i went to war and before i came to know what it felt like to be terrified and afraid of dying . 