Leaves

Short story.

My dearest love,

The days drag by. The moments without you are seemingly endless. I miss you. My heart yearns for your voice, your touch, your smile. I keep the photograph of us that we took the day before you had left under my pillow. I wish you didn't have to go. I count down the days until your return... But I have the nagging thoughts that always summon a cold fear in the pit of my stomach. What if all I ever see of you... is your folded flag and shiney black box? I try to be strong, as I promised you that I would, but I cannot help it. The day we met under that lamp post, was the day you stole my heart and became my everything. Watching that bus carry you away, in uniform, bag slung over your shoulder, green eyes holding back tears, face set and strong for me, was like watching my better half being stolen. All the happiness and sunshine, the memories and laughter, the gifts and embraces, the kisses and gentle carresses.... That van pulled them all away. I am being strong, or trying as much as I can at least, to be strong for my family and yours. I keep in touch with your parents. I see your mother daily, she says hello and that she misses you dearly, your father says he cannot express how proud he is of you and to stay strong. My mother says to thank you for your service to our country. My father sends a pat on the back. Little Emily says to hug her teddy close and remember her forever. The town seems so empty now that they recruited all of you. Everyone is so proud. Especially of you. I love you Warren.

I paused and blinked back tears as I averted my gave towards the mirror. I brushed my long, raven black hair back, tieing it back into a braid and tossing it over my shoulder. I sat on the chair in front of my vanity and stared blankly into the mirrior, taking in my features. Fair, proceline skin, free of blemishes. Sapphire blue eyes, sparkling slightly, holding back tears. Full, pink lips. I ran my fingers over the string of pearls around my neck and gazed out of the window, the autumn breeze rustling the changing leaves. 

Warren was my boyfriend. We had been together for a year. He had recently gotten deployed and was currently fighting in active duty in world war one. The days had dragged on without him. When we met, it was early May of 1916, the beginning of the war, the beginning of summer. He was there in business for his uncle over the summer. It was a summer romance, full of firey passion and heated "I love yous". We had both known that he was leaving in just a few short months, but we refused to distance ourselves, promising that our forever love would last... well forever. He left, but moved with his uncle a few months later, in order to make our promise stay true. My mind wanderd as I stared out of my window, feeling the breeze chill me to the bone. It wanderd along the path... back one year, back to that May, back to that day that seccured our fates and joined our souls forever....

"Gene! Come on, we're going to miss the post!"

"I'm coming Mattie! I can only run so fast in this corset and my bonnett is slipping!!"

We stopped by a lamp post in a fit of breathy giggles. I slipped my bonnett down and pulled the pin, allowing my hair to tumble in delicate waves over my shoulders and down my back. I looked up and over, glancing at the house to the right of the lamp post. Noticing a boy, a stranger. Tall, tan, all muscles, blonde hair, and striking green eyes. Definately not a local boy. His eyes met mine, and I felt the blush creeping up onto my cheeks, coloring them like rose petals.

"COME ON!" Mattie giggled, grabbing my arm and pulling me down the road to mail the letter to her beloved. I glanced over my shoulder as I was tieing my hair up and saw the boy watching me before linking arms with Mattie and running down the dirt road. We reached the post just as the post man got there, out of breath and flushed.

"Good morning madams! In a bit of a hurry I see?" The post man said, smiling at us. Mattie beamed back up and held up the envelope, kissing it and handing it to the post man. 

"Thank you sir! Have a positavely wonderful day!" Mattie said, all good cheer. The postman nodded and went about his way.

We continued on the road back home, giggleing and joking, taking the trip back at a much slower pace. I told her about the boy I had seen, and our brief eye contact.

"You're pink Gene! Somebody's got the hots for the forigner!"

"He's hardly a forigner and I hardly have the hots for him. I am not even allowed to be alone with a man, father would kill me. You know this Mattie!"

"He was only oggling you because your corset was slipping!"

"MATTIE! Oh, if madam Sophia would've heard those words slip from between your lips, she would have fallen dead in her tracks!" I said, widening my eyes and giggling, slapping her arm gently, and then realizing we were at the lamp post again. The boy was there, carrying a suitcase into the house, he chuckled.

"Mattie, I think he heard you!" I whisperd into her ear, holding back a fit of giggles.

"Oh poppycock!" Mattie said, hooking her arm through mine.

"Pardon me madam, may I have a word?" The boy spoke, voice like an angel, stepping into my path and bowing slightly. I had been looking down and hardly noticed him, almost running into him. I looked up, startled, and feeling my blush creeping back as our eyes connected again.

"Oh my, I... umm... I must get home. See you later Gene!" Mattie said, already starting down the road in run.

"Mattie!" I called after her. "I, um, I really must go." I stutterd, adressing him now.

"Please, This will only take a moment of your time. Allow me to escort you home."

"I musnt..."

"Nonsence ma'am, you must allow me to. A lady such as yourself mustnt walk home alone." 

I nodded and started on the road, him at my side, me avoiding eye contact and averting my gaze to the ground.

"So," He started, clearing his throat nervously, "I hard you and your friend say something about Madam Sophia? I was wondering, how do you know her?"

"Oh!" I said, laughing, "She was our tutor, teaching us how to be ladies. Rather straight-laced lady."

"Ah, I see."

There was silence on the rest of the way home. 

"Well, this is where I leave you." I said as we apprached my white pickett fence.

"Before you go, I'm new in town. And I was just wondering, will you be attending the theatre this evening?"

"Yes."

"Will you be going with an escourt?"

"My mother and father."

"I see. Might I court you there?"

"I must decline. That is rather straight-forward and rude of you! I don't even know your name! I am already throwing my fathers rule aside in allowing you to escourt me home. I am not even allowed to be alone with a man, much less let him court me somewhere. I am not sure why Mattie ran off like that, but she will not hear the end of it. Now, forgive me for being blunt, but I must bid you good day."

With that, I turned and walked down my drive, with my head tipped towards the sky, nose in the air. "Warren," He said, amused, towards my back. "My name is Warren." I saw him that night, he met my father, and it was a whirl wind of dates from then on.

I haven't heard from you in three months. What is happening? I would just like to know that you are ok. I have an odd feeling. I'm scared. Please tell me you're ok.

I stopped writing again, taking a deep breath and staring down at my hand writing. A single tear slipped down my cheek and landed in the corner, smearing the ink slightly. I grabbed the hankercheif that Warren had given me and dabbed my eyes.

A lot has been happening around here lately. Not really actually.... It's been rather slow and uneventful. The leaves are finally changing. It's getting cold.

I gazed out at the window again. Sighing and wishing for summer to be back. When everything was so simple and easy. It all went by too fast.

I don't understand why you haven't been writing. Even a short note, with no more than the words "I am fine" on it would be substantial. Is that so hard?

I retrieved an envelope and the photograph that I was going to attach with it.

I love you. Write soon.

-Geneieve.

I allowed the tears to fall as I folded the letter and grabbed the envelope and picture, slipping on my cloak and heading outside, down the familiar dirt road as if in a daze. I got to the lamp post and stopped, gazing at it.

The tall black iron streatching towards the sunset painted sky, red and orange. The ornate designes, and lamp cover with a single candle inside that had just been lit leaning over the dirt lane. The leaves fell around it, flitting in the breeze, circling as if they were dancing through the air. Oranges, reds, yellows, and browns alike all seemed to glow in the painted sky and the farwell light of the sinking sun, saying goodnight before slipping behind the horizon until the mornings greeting. 

I turned my gaze to the house on the right. Tall, white, victorian house streatching up into the autumn sky and sinking sun. Big green lawn, littered with leaves that had completed their dance. White curtains drawn over blue trimmed windows. White french doors, drawn shut tight to keep out winters bitter cold. Smoke drifting lazily up into the sky before disipating from the chimnea.

I averrted my gaze again towards the light post, my back turned towards the main road. A soft breeze ruffled my hair as I gazed up, mind being thrown back again.

"Don't forget me my love."

"Never Warren. You have my heart."

I unfolded the finished letter.

"I will always love you Genevieve." I felt his arms wrap around me, pulling me in tightly, close, allowing me to inhale the aroma of his uniform.

I re-read my words.

A soft sob excaped my lips as I embraced him, knowing it may be the last time.

I tore the letter in half, hearing the paper rip and make the noise of crunched leaves, closing my eyes against the sound.

His lips met mine as he wiped the tears from my cheeks. I leaned my cheek on his hand, throwing myself into what might have been our last kiss.

I tore the letter more, savoring the crunching sound.

"I love you." He whisperd, eyes closed, lips almost toching mine.

A few more tears.

"I love you too."

The breeze rippled through my body, I felt it it sink into my skin, felt the cold embrace my body.

One more kiss. Then he turned, bag in hand, and boarded. I watched as he dissappeared. In a cloud of dust.

I opened my clenched hand, and watched the letter scatter on the breeze, preforming the same dance as the leaves. A single tear fell, and I felt my mind spin. Felt the cold, harsh reality sink in. Made up my mind and looked up into the sky, feeling the dreaded words sink in. Warren was gone, forever. He would never write me back, so there was no point in mailing one more letter and creating false hope. I felt the earth spin, as more tears fell and everything fell silent. I sobbed and collapsed, expecting to feel hard earth, but instead felt the embrace of a human.

"Why are you crying Miss?"

I caught my breath 

opend my eyes and looked 

straight 

into 

the eyes of.

Warren.

Author's Note

Short story I wrote in my free time. Enjoy