Until we meet again (A war romance) (#Wattys2015)

Diana

All I could see was darkness. It took me few seconds to realise that my eyes weren’t actually open, but try as I might, I couldn’t open them. I panicked, and willed myself to move, but it was like my body wouldn’t obey me anymore. Now, I only had my thoughts. I couldn’t even tell if it was night or day. I could faintly hear voices from above me- a man and a woman. She was crying, I could tell from the way her voice shook. No I thought it couldn’t be… and then, I felt someone clutching tightly at my hand. “Please wake up!” I heard. The words were loud and clear, it had to be…. Mother! I didn’t think she cared, not really, but here she was, crying for me and holding my hand. In my head, I fought to wake up, in my head, I opened my eyes and hugged my mother, in my head, I told her I was sorry, but in my body, I remained still and lifeless. I felt so helpless! Hadn’t someone said that to me once? I was certain of it, but for the life of me, I couldn’t remember who it was…

“You shouldn’t be biting your nails,” my mother’s voice said, almost laughing. I wanted to laugh with her, to cry, to tell her I was all right, but I remained trapped in my own body. I was drifting then, like my brain was shutting down whatever was left of me. I let it take me; I was too tired to argue.

 When I “Woke” again, I felt something moist and cooling on my forehead, like a cloth or something… I felt a sudden pain shoot through my mind, and I wanted to cry out, but I was silent, unmoving. I wanted to cry with frustration and anger. Wake up! I raged in my head open your eyes damn it! I drifted off again, but when my mind came back to life again, I heard another voice. This person was crying. He sounded slightly older than me. His hand brushed against my cheek, and I felt my head roll back.

“Di!” The voice sobbed, “I’m so sorry, Di!” I knew that voice from somewhere, but I just didn’t know where. An uncle maybe, or a cousin?

“I didn’t mean to do it, it just- happened; then you came in and…” There was a sharp intake of breath as the voice paused to compose itself. “I don’t know if you can hear me, Di, but I am so sorry.  If you die, then I’ll have nothing, nothing. When I was out in the trench, all I could think of to make me feel better, was you. If I can make it home from war, you can sure as hell wake up!” I felt my shoulders being lightly shaken, and my thoughts scrambled. Who was this voice, who was telling me he loved me. He seemed strangely familiar, but I couldn’t- remember…

I remembered Mother always criticizing me, and I remember driving, and I remembered sitting under a tree in a field a few months ago, but I didn’t remember this boy, who was telling me he loved me, and that I was all he had. I wanted to cry, and amazingly, my cheek suddenly felt wet, as a tear slipped down my cheek. The voice stopped sobbing, and I could feel his eyes on me. He suddenly called for my mother, and in the distance, I could hear the faint sound of running footsteps. Mother was crying with happiness, and I was proud. I did it! I thought so I can wake up!

But the drifting feeling was tugging at my mind, like an itch irritates you until you scratch it. I let my mind go numb, and drift into a deep sleep.

I opened my eyes, and take in the room around me. I was in my own room, with the white-washed walls, with the paint feeling at the corners of the room. The carpet was a pale cream, and here and there, there were smudges from where mugs of tea had been spilled. Everything looked so dreary! I put my hand to my forehead, and felt the bandages that were wrapped around my head. I could feel the cut on my forehead, and I winced. Then I realised: I was awake!

 I heard footsteps trudging up the steps, and the door suddenly opened, and Mother came in. She looked older. I could see age lines on her forehead, and she looked like she hadn’t slept for weeks! She closed the door behind her, and turned to me. She froze. I stared at her, trembling. When did it ever get so cold in here? Before I realised what was happening, I felt arms around me, and they felt warm and comforting. Mother was shaking, probably crying.

“I thought I’d lost you!” Mother said quietly.

“I know.” I said, smiling.

“How?”

“I heard you. You held my hand and told me you were sorry.” Mother blushed, “I am.”

“So am I.” I was crying. “I love you, Mum.”

Mother stiffened in my arms, “I- love you too Diana.”

“I’m sorry I disappoint you.” Mother pulled away from me.

“You could never disappoint me. Never.”

I grinned, tried to think of what I was doing here.“ What- happened?”

“The doctor says you were in a car crash,”

“But we don’t have a car,”

“The doctor thinks it must have been Matthew’s car.”

I frowned, “Who’s Matthew?”

***
Author's note:
Ahhhh cliffhanger! I hope you are enjoying this plot twist. bet you didn't see THAT coming! I set you the goal of 120 reads by sunday but you've completed THAT WITH NO PROBLEM!!! I'm so happy thank you! how about 150 then if you're so determined?
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