You Promised

Chapter Twenty Eight

The grains brush against my legs as I run through the wheat field. I can hear him sprinting along behind me, crushing the fragments beneath his feet. I look behind me and see him gaining. I push myself harder towards the lake at the bottom of the hill. The downwards slope allows me to half-fall down the hill. I tumble down halfway screaming as I go, I collapse in a heap at the bottom, mere inches away from the lake water that laps gently on the stoney beach. I reach into the water as I hear him crash onto the ground behind me. I feel his fingers grip my hair as he slowly pulls my face up to look at him.
He bends down, his lips parting my own forcefully. I kiss him before rolling onto my stomach and sliding into the water. Adam groans before joining me in the lake. I push my head under the water to rinse out my hair. His long fingers run through my hair as he pulls me in for another embrace. We laugh in each other's arms before crawling back to the shoreline to watch the sunset.
Fingers of orange and pink caress the skyline as the sun slowly vanishes over the distant hills. A few bold stars appear soon after the sun sinks below the horizon.
Adam points at one constellation. 'Do you see that one?' I nod my response. 'It's Taurus. It's shaped like a bull.'
I curl up beside him, too scared to check the time and go home. 'Adam, I wish we could stay here forever.'
He looks at me and smiles. 'Then look. Memorise very detail Ami.' His voice turns urgent. 'Let's not forget today Ami. Promise me that. Please.'
I stare at him, startled. 'Alright. I promise.'

I open my eyes in the middle of my bed. My blankets covering only my feet. I don't move, I just stare up at the ceiling and count the small cracks in it. Soon, I close my eyes and try to force the image of my sunlit Adam making me promise not to forget him, and how he seemed to know of our imminent danger months before war was declared, out of my head. I screw my eyes shut in an effort to keep away tears. I roll onto my side to examine my own photographs of him. I quickly stand up and get dressed for the day.
Out of the corner of my eye, as I drag a hairbrush through my hair I see my bedroom door opening. The absence of a knock tells me that my brother is here.
'Morning Ami. Fine day. How did you sleep? Good. Want to know something?'
I sigh to myself as John continues his story. 'Well, I was out with Thomas yesterday and he told me something interesting.' He pauses for dramatic effect. 'Jayne spoke yesterday.'
I nearly drop my hairbrush in delighted shock. I turn on him and shake his shoulders. 'When? What did she say? Is she awake? Who was with her?'
He grins, enjoying his moment of power before answering. 'No, she didn't wake up she just mumbled it in her sleep and she's still unconscious. It was last night, Anna was with her.'
I grit my teeth. 'What did she say?'
'It was hard to make out. One word, like Harry? Maybe? It definitely started with an H.' He stops again. 'Or maybe not. Maybe it didn't sound like an H. Maybe she just gurgled. I don't know.'
I can barely contain a smile as I race downstairs. I practically skip into the kitchen and I find my way blocked by my brooding sister.
'Why are you so happy?' She growls.
'Jenny.' I inform her happily. 'Nothing, not even you, can dampen my spirits now.' I pat her shoulder before passing her and kissing my parents good morning.
As soon as breakfast is finished, I take my leave of my family and head towards Anna's house. When I am just pushing open the gate, I see Hazel tumbling out of the house with Anna in tow.
'Hey Ami. Going to see Jayne?' Hazel says as she walks past, giving me a quick hug as she does. Anna does the same and we all make our way to the hospital. 'Have you heard about her talking?'
Anna rolls her eyes. 'Everyone has heard about it Hazel.'
'I don't know how you did because no one likes you.' Hazel retorts grinning.
I choose to interrupt them before it gets too violent. 'Is she awake or said anything else?'
They look at me then Anna responds. 'No. Totally asleep again now.'
We continue silently along our way, until my brother decides to grace us with his presence.
'Hey girls. Hey Hazel.' He says, holding Hazel's hand.
She grins at him and then me. John turns to look at me. 'Any word of Adam Ami?'
I shake my head. 'No.'
Anna holds my arm. 'Are you still dreaming Ami?'
I look into her eyes. 'The dreams are all I have of him. When I am awake, I'm terrified that I will forget his face. The way his hand held mine, the excitement when I saw him, the way he kissed me. The dreams give him back to me.'
She nods, but how can she ever understand. I would not wish this on anyone, certainly not my best friends. 'Ami, maybe it would do you good to get out of here.' She says thoughtfully. 'Maybe you should go into town, or even to London?'
I smile at her enthusiasm but sadly shake my head. 'I can't. I'm needed here. Besides, I can't leave you unattended, much less my brother and Hazel.' I nod at my brother, who is currently trying to tie Hazel's hair in a plait but it looks much more like a knot tied at the base of some twirled hair. 'See? If I left, he might try to become a hair stylist!'
Anna's sweet laugh pierces the air then we continue silently to the hospital.
When we arrive, we push through the door to see Jayne, sitting upright in her bed, listening to Henry. He is reading to her from a small book of poetry. She turns her head to see us and her eyes light up her injured face. I have to stifle a gasp. All along the side of her face is a crimson bruise and the flesh is swollen along her hairline.
Hazel gracefully, sweeps into the room and kisses Jayne's forehead. 'Why are you in bed? You look better now than you did before!'
Jayne laughs and then winces, as the movement seems to cause her pain. 'Well, I still look better than you.'
Anna delights at a chance to tease Hazel. 'Jayne, your seventy year old grand-aunt looks better than Hazel.'
Hazel straightens up and looks ready to retort when John comes to Anna's rescue. 'No one looks better than Hazel .' He kisses her tenderly on her cheek before turning to Jayne. 'How do you feel Jaynie?'
Her smile at the endearment is genuine and she sighs before answering. 'Like I have been hit in the face with a frying pan.'
'Thats good because that's how you look!' I laugh giving her a gentle hug. 'Your mother is on the way.'
She groans. 'And I thought Ollie was the worst of my problems.'
Dolly comes in with a clipboard and a doctor.
'I must ask you all to leave and let our patient rest.' He informs us sternly. Dolly tries to lighten his words with a smile but we all grumble our way out the door. I link arms with my brother as Hazel and Anna make their separate ways home.
John and I walk slowly back to our house.
'So...' John says conversationally. 'How are you?'
I laugh merrily with him as we walk down the lane. 'We should plan something.' John says suddenly, interrupting my reverie. Seeing my questioning raised eyebrow, he continues. 'Have something planned for when all of this is over. Something to look forward to.'
'I have my wedding!' I answer smiling at the thought of it.
He shakes his head firmly. 'No no no. Something different. Something...I don't know, special. No offence but something like....like......a football game!'
I erupt with laughter at his suggestion. 'I see you think a football game would be better than your own sister's wedding! I see him fluster in response and try to imagine a way out of this. 'But I suppose, you have a point.' His face relaxes as I pretend to concede. 'A bunch of fools kicking a piece of leather around a field would be much more enjoyable than watching your sister be joined forever to the man of her dreams.'
'I actually feel sorry for you Ami.' He tells me sadly. 'You have to settle for the second best looking lad in England.' He strikes, what he imagines is a handsome pose. I laugh and lightly hit him in the arm.
'You're Hazel's property anyway.' I laugh brushing off his comment. 'Hazel would kill me.'
John pauses. 'Would she really?'
I roll my eyes. 'John she announced in front of everyone that she loves you, which is something I haven't managed to do yet and I have been stuck with you since your birth.'
He snickers at me as our home looms into view. 'Surely I'm not that bad.'
I give him a quick hug before going inside. 'No. You're not that bad.'
'Why does everyone get affection except me?' Jenny complains from inside.
'Because you're a cranky fusspot who does nothing but complain.' Answers John cheerfully.
Jenny stares at him, obviously surprised by his answering at all. He pushes past her, grinning mischievously as he goes.
She turns her incredulous gaze at me and I can barely contain my laughter. I walk inside as she follows me into the kitchen. My mother is knitting by the fire and my father peeps over his newspaper at us.
'What has you now scowling now my child?' His comment is aimed at my glowering sister. She strengthens her glare at him before sitting down on the large sofa, deliberately lying back as to take up as much space as possible. I glance around the room for other seating options of which there are none.
I sigh and offer to make a pot of tea. They accept with a loud cheer and I head into the kitchen to make tea. I leave the kettle to boil as I look out the window, remembering happier times when I would play in the small garden with John and Adam, and on occasion my sister. We used to climb the trees and John would convince me to climb the trees and then offer me no help when getting back down. I always knew that I only had to call Adam's name and he would come running to lift me down from the tree.
Adam and I had always had a special connection. From the days when he was my most dependable best friend, to the current days when he and I are planning our wedding, I always knew he would be there for me.
I take a deep breath to stop the tears that seem ever present lately and return to my family.