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

Matthew

I wished Di good night and watched as she walked home as the Sun disappeared. I sighed, and pulled myself up onto Truffle’s back. Oh, how I wished we could live together, then everything would be perfect. I was saving for a small cottage somewhere, someday I promised silently to myself.

I rode Truffle back down the hill. I could have walked, but that just hurt my feet. The doctor had said I should rest, but if I never got better, I’d never have to go back out there, and I’d never have to die for an argument that I didn’t even care about!

I reached the farm, and dismounted. I held out an apple to Truffle, who took it in her mouth with one bite, and snorted happily. She nosed my hand, and I patted her gently, “Good girl,” I praised, and put her into the stable with the other horses we had. The strongest, Mum had sold off to go to help soldiers in the war, but the ones we still had were still useful. We hadn’t named them so we wouldn’t get attached, so they were simply horse1; 2 and 3.

I said goodnight to Truffle, and limped back inside to rest. As I shut the back door, I heard Mum crying. I rushed as fast as I was able to the living room where she sobbed. She looked up as I entered the room. Mum smiled a watery smile, “He’s home, darling.”

I then felt a warm hand on my shoulder, and I turned suddenly. It was my dad. He was alive; he was home!

“Dad,” I breathed, “You’re alive!”

He looked older, his age etched into his face with lines, and his hair had gotten slightly greyer than the last time I had seen him, but his eyes lit up when he saw my face.

He didn’t say anything, he just pulled me into a warm hug, and I smelt the cigarette smell that clung to his clothes. It was my dad. I clung to him, never wanting to let go, but he withdrew the hug, and looked at me for a moment.

“So grown up,” he smiled suddenly. I held up my hand so that he could see the ring on my finger. His eyes widened; his jaw dropped.

“Who…”

“Diana,”

He grinned, “Always liked that girl. How is she?”

“Fine. I can’t believe you’re here! I thought you were…”

“I didn’t intend on dying, so I didn’t,”

“Then why didn’t you write?”

“I was…” his voice lowered to a whisper, and I leaned in to hear what he was saying, “I was selected to work undercover, so I couldn’t.”

“But you’re alright now?”

“I think so, yes. They let me come home; they thought I’d done my bit,”

“That’s great.”

“How did you get back?”

“Injured,”

“Oh, Matt…”

“But I’m getting better. I’ll be as right as rain in around 6 months or so. I can walk now. Who knows, the war may even be over by the time I get better,”

“And Pete?”

I hung my head. I couldn’t look at him and tell him. The only sound I could hear was the sound of Mum crying.

“He can’t be…” Dad said finally, his voice wobbling, on the verge of tears. I nodded, holding back tears of my own.

“I’m sorry Dad, he was…”

“Don’t say it.” Dad said suddenly, “Just don’t.”

I nodded; I could barely say it myself.

“When’s the funeral?”

“Mum wanted you to back for the funeral,”

“I’m here now.”

I looked at him, “I know.”

The next week was Pete’s funeral. We went to the church for the service. Pete’s body hadn’t been recovered, so we could only pray for him.

“He’s with God now,” Mum had said quietly, “He’s at peace, no matter where he is.” I tried to take comfort in that.

Only a few came to the funeral: Mum and Dad, Mrs Magee, Di and I. The vicar said a few words about how Pete had been a kind, sweet, brave boy, who fought heroically, but I knew different. He may have fought, but no aspect of war could ever be heroic. I could still see the eyes of the German I had killed. He had just been trying to survive, just like me. We all were trying to survive. We didn’t want to die, but he had. He probably didn’t even know what he was fighting for. I tried not to think about it.

I wanted to speak out about what the vicar was saying, ignorant to what it was all really like, but I decided that this was Pete’s day, so I kept quiet. Diana reached out, and squeezed my hand reassuringly. I smiled sadly. After the vicar was finished, we sat there in silence for a moment, and we remembered Pete. A deathly silence hung over on us, waiting to be broken. Mum broke it suddenly, by sobbing quietly. Dad put his arms around her, but he was crying too. What if I had died, would they have missed me equally? Pete was twice the man I ever was, so why had I lived?

Di squeezed my hand again, and I suddenly knew. This was why I was alive, because of her. My wife, and my soon-to-be child.

 ***

Crying as I write this, who knew writing would be so emotional? Wow, over 20 views in one day! That's awesome. Can I try and get 500 views?

We are nearly at the end of this story. I wouldn't expect it to be more than 5-6 chapter longer...

What should I write after this. I was thinking either a Skulduggery fanfiction or a fantasy...

This is dedicated to Sarah again for voting, thanks!