"Come back my love."

 

 

      "It pains me to leave you again so soon my lady. You know that if I could I would stay here with you." He told me as he looked into my eyes. The air around us was cool with out being cold and it stirred his hair very nicely as whipped around us. I looked down at his hands that were holding mine, as they were laying on my lap. He had only been back two months. Now he was off again. I already miss him and fear for him and he was still here in our home. I turned my face up to look at him again. I saw it in his eyes. He was more saddened by leaving me than I was about him leaving.

      "Tell me again how short of a time you will be gone this time?" I asked him.

      "I was assured that my services will not be required for more than a year and half." He told me. Over a year! I almost shivered. I smiled at him and I felt hollow as I said,

      "I guess that it could have been worst." We heard metallic scraping, and moved almost as one to look at the gate that led out of the enclosed garden. There soon stood Albert, dressed for battle, even if he was just escorting my husband. All he did was just stand there until my companion nodded his head at him, then he bowed and left. We continued to hold hands as we stood. He stood first and pulled my hands towards his chest as I then stood. I didn't want him to go. But it was no use telling him something that he already knew, and could not change. I looked up into his eyes and without saying a word, I tried to tell him how much I loved him. I also tried to remember as much of his face as I could. Soon I closed my eyes and I felt as tears started to run down my checks. I started to turn away, but he would not let me. I opened my eyes as I felt one of his hands as it let go of mine and started to wipe away my tears.

      "I'm sorry." I told him

      "For what?" He asked me.

      "For crying. I know that it is hard on you to leave me. You don't need to see me crying also." My head had bent and I was looking at the top of his chin link vest. He placed a finger and softly nudged my face up again. I looked at him, and then closed my eyes as he bent to kiss me. It reminded me of our first kiss.  I was 16 and he was 21. That day was his birthday.  He had not believed me when I told him behind my mother's back that a kiss from me to him would be my gift to him. He didn't believe me up until I started to pull my face closer to his in the garden.

      He was pulling away now. He started to back away from me. It was too soon. You can't leave me now. I said to myself.

      "Wait." I called to him. His back was already turned to me by the time I had spoken. He turned back to me to see my fiddling with my hair. I soon pulled a sea green ribbon from my hair. He came back and took it from my outstretched hand.

      "Something to keep you safe." I told him. He raised my hand and kissed it.

      "Thank you my lady." He told me as he looked at it, slipped it into a pouch at his side. He then turned on his heel and walked over to the door were Albert once stood. He was about to disappear from my site when he stopped and turned towards me. He carried a leg back, and bowed low towards me. My hands griped the sides of my dress, and bowed deeply in return. When I raised my head he was gone.

      "AH!" I cried out in surprise and grief. I sank back down onto the stone bench, closed my eyes, and prayed to God to bring my husband back safely.

 

                                                                                                The End

                                                                                               

                                                                                                Jhoy E. Meade