“Sarah”

The grocery bag dropped.

“….Terence?” She froze. Her hands were balled into fists, knuckles white. There stood a soldier, dressed neatly in the pink and greens; an army dress uniform. A ghost from the army.

He stepped forward, “I….”

“Stop,” she said firmly. He halted hesitantly.

Fighting back her tears. “They told me you were dead,” Her voice shaking. “We refused to believe it, but so much time had passed.”

He stepped forward, reaching for her. She instinctively stepped backwards, refusing to let him closer to her already broken heart.

His eyes were withered with pain.

“Please, I can explain. All of it.”

Tears spilled on her face as she shook her head.

He surged forward and held her by the small of her back and embraced her deeply, his head tucked by her hair. He whispered in her ear. “I’ve missed you.” Hot tears spilled from his closed eyes as he held his world within his scarred arms. Her eyes widened from the initial shock before breaking down sobbing. She embraced him back.

“What took you so long?” She wept. The cold wind blew, fluttering and tussling their hair but they didn’t care. They felt the warmth of each other’s embrace.

He gently lifted her face to see her in all her beauty. The face he missed so much. Held her by the cheek, he wiped the tear sodden cheek with his thumb. Her brilliant blue eyes captivated him like the first time he saw her.

Time froze around them as they only could see each other.

She too raised her hand and felt his face, tracing over a scar he had as a child falling from the apple tree. She held the man she loved gingerly. Almost unsure the situation was real, she said his name under her breath.

“_Terry_”

“_Sarah”_

Their lips drew closer, only a breath a way. Their hearts beating from a moment of a past time. Their lips just about to brush each other. She pushed gently her hand on his chest as she turned slightly away.

“I can’t,” she looked conflicted, tightlipped .

Downcast, he was afraid of what would happen next.

“It’s been five years… Terence…..they reported you dead after the Battle of the Bulge.” She looked at him painfully.

“They came to our house, your mother and father were with me. They gave us their condolences that you died that day.” Remembering the painful memories triggered her tears to flow again. She barely let out, “After hearing that, your mother collapsed. She suffered from a heart attack. She passed away the same day, I’m so sorry Terry,” she sobbed.

“I know….I know,” he held onto her closely.

Her head rested on his chest as she held on to him.

“Things have changed Terry, we can’t go back,” she said softly. “If only we could go back in time.” He had no response, he just held her silently; almost pretending to not hear it. A moment passed, and finally they let go. He held her hands, hers on top of his. It was then he saw the golden band. It wasn’t his. Their heads down as reality resumed in their presence.

“I’m married, Terry.” She said silently. He knew there was a good chance but hearing it could never prepare him for it.

“We managed to pass deeply into the German lines, and pushed them back” he started. She listened intently.

“The landings at Normandy were a monumental success and had the Germans reeling back. I’ve some how managed to survive the landings.” He paused. He looked into her eyes. “It was from there, my misfortune began. I’m sorry Sarah.” He looked sadly.

“We entered Bastogne, just outside of Luxembourg. But by this point, our boys were exhausted. We had replacements come into relieve us.” He took a breath.

“I was to go home. To you by Christmas. Things were looking good but the skies were grey and the weather wasn’t letting up.” She laid her head resting on his weary chest as he spoke, listening to him and his heart beat.

“The Nazis used the opportunity under grey skies for a major offensive. They got us good and our inexperienced replacements couldn’t hold them back. They pushed deep into our positions. The men fought hard and had them run a couple of times but we lost too many.” He stared into the distance, remembering the rain of steel and fire he had gone through. “So many of us gone, we were all supposed to go home….” The pain in his voice was all too clear.

“I tried to save them Sarah….I—I saw them right in front of me.” He stammered. “But I was shot! Mortally wounded. I remember fading away into the distance. And the next thing you know, I woke up. I was alive. I was told that a French resistance fighter had found survivors after the Germans pushed past his position. We hid under the cellar until our troops managed to push them back a few weeks later. They told me I was in a coma for several months. By the time I checked in with the army, they had already listed me as KIA.” She was quiet, so many things were running in her mind.

“I swear I tried to write to you as soon as I could. Didn’t you receive my letters?” Sarah shook her head.

“After you and your mother passed, your father and I decided to not see each other. So much pain happened at once, Terry.” There was pain in her voice. “Your father wanted to be alone.” She said quietly. “I wasn’t angry because I understood your father. For me, I lost you. For him, he lost everything. The pain was too great. I saw the light go out from his eyes, he lost the will to live. I wanted to help him but he refused to see me and only left me the note.” She took out her handkerchief and wiped her nose.

“I visited him for over a year in earnest, trying to help him but it was for naught.”

She was apologetic. Sarah wished there was more to be done.

Terence knew his old man was like that; stubborn to the end.

“You should visit him, he misses you much.” She said softly.

“I will.”

Sarah continued, “Every time I came home, I relived every memory I had with you. Dancing slow to the song we loved in the living room. Your smile every time I walked into the bedroom.” She smiled wistfully. “The house is gone Terry. I didn’t know it then that you were still alive. The mail hadn’t reached me all this time.” Terence’s shoulders slumped. He let out a sigh. There was a momentary silence between them. The pitter patter of the raindrops grew louder with every second.

“If I had known, if only I had known, I wouldn’t have stayed any longer,” he looked to the sky. The rain fell on his face as he stood there. “It was my fault for staying to help rebuild in Europe. If I had known the letters weren’t being delivered…” He said regretfully.

He asked her, “Who delivered the news of my death? Was it from someone in my unit?”

“The soldier who delivered the news said he knew you. He was there when he saw you died. He said his name was Corporal Vince Newman.”

“So Vince survived,” a little relief was in his voice. With the rain starting to pour, they sensed an ending to their brief reunion. And yet, they didn’t want to let go of each other again after they had just found each other.

“Is he good to you?” He said solemnly. Sarah couldn’t say anything. It was too unfair for Terence, she knew that. She nodded.

“We grieved for you, Terence. Every day. You never left our hearts.” The rain poured onto them, they didn’t care. “Seb was there for me after I had lost you. He stayed by my side for months keeping me company.” She unwrapped herself from his embrace and held his hands. “Perhaps things could’ve been different if your letters have reached me.” She looked into his eyes. She saw the same man she had fell in love with years ago. Those once loving eyes now filled with regret. But she too felt regret.

“Stay well Sarah,” Terence meant it.

“Be well, Terence,” said Sarah.

He saluted and turned away before marching off in the rain. He didn’t look back as the rain drenched him. Sarah watched him go, almost reminiscent of the previous time. This time, he never came back.