Tears spilled out around us as women held their lovers, now soldiers, tight one last time. Many of these men wouldn’t see daylight again, and they knew it. They were off the the trenches, where if they didn’t die, they’d by scarred for life, physically and mentally.

Maisy had escorted Theodore to the train station, though she told her self she did so only as a loyal childhood friend. But every last day with Theo made her rethink their relationship.

Theodore was clinging to the girl he loved, now more than he ever had before. He had always loved her, since they where children, but he’d told himself self it was only as a friend. Now, however, he wasn’t quite as stupid. He knew that this girl was the one he loved.

“Maisy… hey, look at me.” He tilted her chin up with his hand, looking her in the eyes. They pooled with tears. “I wouldn’t want to leave you crying, now would I? It’s not very gentlemanly.”

She quietly laughed. “No, I suppose you wouldn’t.” Her eyes drifted off to the distance. She was imagining her dear, sweet Theodore, the boy who always made her laugh, in the trenches. Theodore was imagining the same thing, except he didn’t fear the guns, the mud, the bombs, quite as much as he feared leaving his Maisy.

“Maisy…I’ve got something to tell you.”

She looked back at him, fearing the worst. “Well?” Her voice broke.

It killed him to see her like this. “I love you, Maisy. You’re the only girl I’ve ever loved, since we where children. And if you feel the same, you’re the only girl I want to love.” She looked stunned. “I-I’m sorry. I just knew I’d regret it if I didn’t say it right now.” But was he sorry? He was sorry if Maisy didn’t feel the same way, or if he had pressured her to feel the same way. But was he sorry he said it? No, actually, he wasn’t. He’d finally said the words that had made themselves comfortable in his heart and mind for 18 long years. But the years didn’t feel long with Maisy, she had made him want to live forever. Now those years seemed far too short.

Maisy knew she had been deining her love for Theodore ever since it had become clear to her, almost a year ago. To hear him say aloud that he loved her, wanted to love her forever… it was almost too much. Almost. She knew that they only had minutes left before Theo shipped of to the trenches. She decided to make the most of it.

Maisy looked up at Theodore, took his head in her hands, and pushed any doubts aside. Then she kissed him.

At first Theodore was suprised, but then he knew. He knew that he would survive the war and come back to Maisy, so he could marry and spend forever with her. It was sudden, he knew, and not what any gentleman would think. But he couldn’t help it, he was young and in love. Maisy was too.

They pulled away from their tender first kiss. “Theo, I think I love you too. Actually, no, I know that I love you.” They looked into each others eyes, and the love that passed between them was enough to ignite all of the Central Powers armies. They both might be new to this, but they had known each other longer.

The train horned, signaling the end of their time. Theodore pulled Maisy into a fierce hug. “Write to me, okay?”

She nodded, holding him tight. “I will. Everyday, until you return.”

They both knew that him returning the same wasn’t very likely, but they where being optimistic. The train hollored again, its last call for boarding.

“Goodbye, Maisy. I’ll see you again.” Nothing stung more than this goodbye. He couldn’t bear leaving her.

The tears fell. At first Maisy didn’t say anything, goodbye was too final. She didn’t want him to leave. But she knew that was childish, Theo had to go. So she gathered herself and pushed out the words. “Goodbye, Theodore.”

And with much struggle, he pulled away and boarded the train.

———-

When the boys in the trenches asked Theodore if he had a girl back home, he didn’t hesitate. He said that yes, he did in fact have a girl back home. Then he showed them a picture of Maisy, the one he kept in his pocket always, close to his heart.

Maisy kept a picture of Theodore too, in a locket that hung close to her own heart. They both looked at the picture every day, awaiting the moment when they could see those eyes in person.