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She walked, barefoot, on the grassy slopes, the wind caressing her face and hair, whispering promises of love and eternity into her ear. In her arms was a big basket of white lilies and jasmines, and a small, tight bundle of letters. Her clear blue eyes looked straight ahead as she made her journey, striding purposefully to her destination.
The birds sang, the squirrels played, the trees waved and danced. It was a picturesque surrounding, full of joy. Had it been any other time, she would have surrendered to the teasing, tempting beauty of nature and jumped straight into its welcoming embrace. Instead, she continued walking, not allowing the memories of the past to stir up just yet.
Her footsteps finally came to a halt at the edge of the cliff, overlooking the endless valley below. Right at her feet was a small tombstone, barely visible from a distance. Small, but not insignificant. She remembered this place well.
“You’ll see,” he promised, pausing to place a soft kiss on the back of her hand. His dark eyes sparkled with excitement. “You’ll love it, trust me.”
She smiled contentedly, believing him. She had fallen into the heady depths of first love at the age of sweet sixteen, and every day with her lover was an eternity in paradise. Even in her wildest dreams she had never dared to imagine such bliss.
“Close your eyes,” he murmured, guiding her along as she took hesitant steps, temporarily blinded. When she opened them again, all air escaped her lungs at the sight of the enchanting view. “It’s beautiful!”
The shimmering mirror of the lake below reflected the light in silver incandescence, the rolling, evergreen slopes of grass like a soft, warm blanket, the wildflowers growing at the foot of the hills blossoming in colourful splendour. She was rendered speechless at the sheer magnificence of nature.
They sat on the grass, barely speaking, simply enjoying the company of nature and each other. He clasped her hand and she smiled back at him, feeling as though she would never need anything else in the world.
Five weeks later though, news of war with a feuding country had broken out, and all able-bodied young men above the age of fifteen were to sign up with the army and defend their country. She was horror-stricken at the news, but was forced to accept his decision to fight for the honour of the country. The day before he left, she clung on tight to him, sitting at the exact same spot at the edge of the cliff. The tears she had held back so bravely for his sake were unleashed now, and she sobbed uncontrollably into his chest. She did not want him to go. There were so many other willing youngsters. Why did he have to go, and leave her?
He stroked her hair gently. Then he spoke, in a tender voice, “it is an honour, and a responsibility, for me to defend all that is good and green; that this country has provided me with. Our beautiful countryside, the peace of our villagers, the mothers taking care of their children to grow up to become fine young people…what is there for me not to want to protect?”
Shamefully, she buried her face, not knowing how to convey her selfish but understandable desire of keeping him there with her, safe, loved. But he understood, as he always did. “There is so much for you to live for,” he whispered softly, smiling consolingly. “There is so much in life that is beautiful and wondrous, and all I’m doing is making sure you have a chance to claim what should be yours. Life is an iridescent rainbow, full of endless beauty, coloured in different shades.”
“Everything’s grey to me right now,” she answered bitterly as he wiped away a tear. Sighing, he took her into his arms.
“Just look around you,” he paused. “Green of the grass—for natural, soothing happiness. Red and purple of the flowers—unexpected delights. Gold of the sun—constant guiding light, source to all life. Silvery blue of the lake—a reflection of blessings in your life.”
She was beginning to understand. He kissed her on her forehead. “You’ve been such an exquisite treasure to me, and no matter what happens, I’ll always cherish the fact that I’ve been blessed with your love.”
They sat and watched the sun retreat below the mountains back to bed, and counted the first stars that illuminated the night sky. There was an ominous feeling both felt, that this was going to be the last of their days together, but neither invited the demons of fear in.
Before they parted ways, she asked him, “So is this…goodbye?”
He stared into her eyes, not answering just yet. Then, softly, “Please, never ever say goodbye. It is such a final word, it echoes in its own empty loneliness. Even if we’re separated now, it is only temporary. Our hearts will find a way to bring us back together. Never say goodbye, and we will never part.”
Standing there, with the moon smiling her blessings upon them, they shared their first kiss.
She set down the empty basket, and retrieved the letters she had written to him during the seven months she had awaited his return. She had never said goodbye, keeping true to their promise, and because of that kept him alive and well in her mind.
Not without a sense of loss, she put on the grave the creamy white envelopes filled with her scribbling. It was time for him to finally receive the letters she had kept with her for so long, fearing that if she did not keep them, all memories of him would instantly vanish. Yet she had, at last, come to peace with herself, and she knew that there would always be a place for him in her heart. Kissing the letters, and murmuring a prayer for him, she turned and left, to rush back home to help with the preparations of her wedding the next day.
