The Last Goodbye

“You must ask my father, I could not marry you without his blessing” The girl begged as she looked up into the face of the man that could be so caring yet so stubborn.

“I can’t, I have nothing to give you, I could not stand in front of your father and ask for your and with nothing to give or to support you with.”

“Then I will ask him myself, because I can not wait any longer.”

“No, that would not be right. Your father would see me as nothing but a coward. I will ask, I will ask myself tonight.” And that’s what Roran did, that night he arrived at the house of his beloved Katrina, he asked the butler if he could see Jackson, Katrina’s father.

5 minutes later, a stocky, well built giant of a man came downstairs, his light built daughter following. When Katrina saw who was at the door she stopped, sat down on the stairs and watched.

“Sir, Good Evening.” Roran managed to stutter out.

“Good Evening, What can I do you for?” said Jackson, guessing what was coming.

“Sir, I’ve come to ask,” He faltered, “I’ve come to ask for your blessing upon your daughter’s and mine’s engagement.”

There was a moment of silence when Roran was sure Jackson would disapprove and send him packing after a good punch to the head, but instead he turned to his daughter on the stairs.

“Do you love him?” He asked, Katrina jumped u and ran down the stairs to his father. She took him in an awkward embrace as she couldn’t quite reach his neck.

“Yes, father, I do, I love him, I always have and I always will!” She stated clearly.

“Then you have my blessing.” Katrina squealed with delight, releasing her father and turning around to hug her fiancé, but she was caught by surprise as he slid his arms around picked her up, spun her around and set her down, kissing her lightly on the forehead as she laughed. There lives were perfect and to them nothing was going to change that soon, but it did change and a lot sooner than the young couple wanted.

The wedding was arranged for six months later in August. Over the next few months nothing went wrong, but three weeks before the big day things took a nasty turn.

Conscription notices went up around the town again, Roran had dodged the first round, but this time he wasn’t so lucky. He looked at dismay at the notice that clearly stated that all people born on his birthday were to take part in military service.

How was he to break this to his wife to be, three weeks before the wedding. He was to report to the police station to catch the train to London. He had three days to break the news. He went to the post office to pick up his uniform and then headed home. Roran didn’t mention this to his fiancé, he believed it could wait until morning.

The next morning he awoke to see Katrina sitting on the floor beside the bed, crying.

“Honey?” Roran asked concerned, How could she have found out?

“I’m going to be a widow before I’m even married.” He looked shocked.

“What ever do you mean?” He said knowing perfectly well what shat she meant, but not wanting to comprehend it.

“You were conscripted.” she said between sobs.

With that he could no longer deny the truth, he fell back on to the bed to take it all in. The next two days past with no incident.

On the day of his departure, Roran and Katrina went into Weirwold to have what could be there last morning tea together, though neither of them said this.

Sitting in a shop called Lyon’s Tea house Katrina began to cry,

“You can’t go, this isn’t fair.” Katrina keened.

“I know but we all have to do our part for the war effort.” He said this to console himself as much as to console her, even if it was the complete opposite to how he actually felt.

Katrina looked out the window to see a little boy staring back at her between the buns and cakes; he was hurried by an older man. She turned back to Roran and stared into his intensely blue eyes and said “Then, let’s escape…”