Chapter Two.
Back in Blighty.
There was a huge party in Trafalgar Square. Confetti spiraling down from the canons, men, women and children stood in the center hugging and kissing and smiling. I sat on the edge of one of the fountains and watched, it was what I loved to do now that the war was over. I felt utterly useless going to work, I was doing a job I’d always wanted, I got the dream job to be honest; it was in a large law firm in the city. I hadn’t seen Dan in weeks. He had disappeared really.
“Phil?” a quiet, timid voice came from my left.
“Alex! Old boy. Nice to see you.”
“Phil, my you have changed.” He said gesturing to my hair. He was right; now that the war was over and I was no longer in the army I had grown my hair longer. It now reached down over my forehead and brushed my eyebrows. Alex hadn’t changed since the end of the war. He still wore his Major’s uniform.
“I suppose you’re still in the army then?” it was obvious but it gave us something to talk about.
“Yes. I could never leave it. I train new recruits. What about you pally-friend? What are you up to these days?” He said, sitting down.
“I work in the city, a big law firm.” I replied. Looking down at my shoes.
“Hm, are you alright old chap? You seem a bit down in the dumps.”
“Yes, yes I’m fine. I was just thinking about the men you know. I haven’t seen hide nor hair of most of them since the end.” I looked at him as his face seemed to fall slightly.
“You’re thinking about that twit Howell aren’t you?” He said, a little angrily.
“He was not a twit, he is a fine man.”
“God Lester, you’re starting to sound like him!” He shouted, then his eyes went wide and he clapped his hand over his mouth.
“What. What? What did you just say Alex? I sound like who?”
“Like well old boy you sound like him, like Daniel.” He said grimacing.
“You’ve spoken to him? You spoke to him and didn’t tell me? You know I’ve spent hours looking for him.” I said, angrily; it was true, I missed my friend. Even though I had been popular in the regiment Dan had been my best friend. He was the one soldier that I had actually, truly liked.
“Yes well, its been through letters mainly Lester; so it wouldn’t have helped. He wants to see you. He just doesn’t think he should. I managed to persuade him to come here today though, and he’ll be here soon. I’ll leave you to see him. He’s got something very important to tell you, in confidence. I know, but he doesn’t want anyone else to. Here he comes. Look Lester, if you don’t want to see him after this just tell me and I can arrange for him to be sent away; he’s still in the army see.”
“Why would I want that?” I asked after Alex had finished his speech.
“That is for him to tell you.” He said, getting up from the fountain and walking away.
“Erm Hullo, Phil.” The voice came from my other side, I hadn’t seen him come and sit next to me.
“Dan! Where have you been?” I said.
“Oh well, you know… here and there. Doing some thinking.” He said, looking down. I suppose that was what got me worried. He was being quiet, really quiet like we weren’t even friends.
“C’mon Dan, spew your guts, I haven’t seen hide nor hair of you in months. What’s up? You can tell me.”
“Look, while I was away I thought about things and then something big changed about me and I don’t know if you’ll ever want to see me again when I tell you; so I guess I’ve been putting it off.”
“You know, Dan, I’ve been wanting to see you since the end. All that time I have been searching top to toe of this island; how could you think that I could go forever without seeing you?” I looked in his eyes, and I’m not a great believer of the whole ‘eyes are the window to the soul’ lark but I thought I saw something flicker there for a moment.
“Well then, I guess I should spit it out. I love you.” He said, and then he crumpled into himself and put his hands over his face as though I would hit him.
“What do you mean?” I was confused; I loved him like a brother of course but not like… we like that.
“I love you. Like a man should love a woman and there is nothing I can do about it. If you want me to leave I will but know this I will never stop loving you.” He said looking at me right in the eyes.
“Well. Uhm. Er. That’s…that’s nice?” I said. I didn’t know what to do; I kept thinking my brain whirring in to action, did I love him? Could I love him? Should I love him?
