Falling for the Enemy

Until We Meet Again

                                                                                   Catherine

Slowly I lather Henry’s face with soap and water and carefully begin shaving his neck, and then move to the sides of his face, with each movement of the blade I study every inch of his face.  I hope I don’t forget him and I hope he doesn’t forget me.  When I finish shaving, I begin running my fingers through his thick brown hair.  

“It will be a hot summer. You will feel much cooler with your hair shorter” I say as I begin snipping.  

Henry does not say a word.  He sits relaxed with his eyes closed as I move around him, cutting small bits of hair.  Upon finishing I find myself staring at my future husband’s features.  This is the man I want to spend the rest of my life with and he will be leaving me tomorrow morning.  No longer being able to hold my feelings in the tears start falling from my eyes.  Noticing the tears Henry quickly scoops me up and cradles me in his arms and holds me on his lap.   Holding me close to his bare chest with his strong arms wrapped around me, he caresses my back.  

“Does it look that bad?” he says trying to lighten the mood.  

Letting out a small laugh I wipe some of the tears away from my cheeks with the back of my hand.  

“I love you so much.  I can not lose you.” I begin digging my face and body closer into his chest.  

“Catherine, I will come back to you.  I promise.” 

Lifting my chin to look me in the eyes Henry repeats 

“I will come back” and I believe him.  

Henry and I spend the rest of the day together cherishing each moment together.  Trying to squeeze as many memories out of the small amount of time we have.  The night goes by too quickly.  We spend the night in each other’s arms talking, laughing, crying, and loving each other.  My mind keeps willing the sun not to rise, but as always the dawn breaks on a new day.  When the sun rises in the sky, both of us are still wide awake.  Neither one of us has slept refusing to lose any time together.  The tears once again began flowing from my eyes.  It is so real now.  He will be leaving at any moment.  My heart is aching and my stomach is turning.  I am in physical pain at the thought of him leaving, but the time has come.  

Henry gives me a somber look and I know that he is letting me know that the end is near.  The end of my current happiness is about to be shattered.  I am mad that he is leaving me but I understand why he must depart.  Henry begins dressing in some of my father’s old clothes.  Standing I dutifully but reluctantly help him dress.  While getting ready for his departure we do not speak.  We merely exchange somber glances with one another.  He knows I do not want him to go.  After Henry has finished dressing I hand him the knapsack that Sarah made him.  

“Sarah made this for you.  She knows you have a long journey ahead of you.  I think you were starting to grow on her.” Smiling a weak smile, I continue.  

“I placed some dried meat, bread, and a canteen of water inside for you.”  

I also secretly placed a note at the bottom of the sack reminding him how I feel.  I tried to hide the note at the bottom so he would find it much later.  

“I will tell Sarah thank you when I see her,” he says.  

Taking my hand Henry leads me out of Mary’s room and down the hallway to my father’s room.  

“I need to tell your father how much I appreciate everything your family has done for me.” I nod and follow.  

My father does not know about Henry and my relationship.  I do not want anyone to know about Henry and me until I speak with Nathan.  This is the least I can do to respect Nathan and luckily Henry agrees with me. Henry lightly taps on my father’s door.  My father is awake and sitting in his rocking chair staring out the window.  He looks so frail and pale.  Father knows that Henry is leaving this morning.  I assume he is up at the break of dawn because of Henry’s departure.  

“Mr. Cooney, I’m sorry to disturb you so early in the morning but I wanted to thank you for your hospitality and kindness.  I do not know many men who would have taken in the enemy and nursed them back to health and for this, I will be forever in your debt. “ 

My Father smiles “Good luck, my dear boy.  You are a good man. Stay safe.” 

Henry walks over and shakes my father’s hand.  Father has been bedridden the last few days and has been too tired to leave his bedroom. So I am happy to see him in his rocking chair.   We turn and leave the room and begin our descent down the stairs into the main hall.  Henry slowly glances around the main hall taking everything in.  

“It won’t be the same without you here,” I say taking his hand in my mine.  He kisses me on the forehead and suddenly I am immersed in sadness.  This may be the last time he is in my home.  This may be the last time I hold his hand.  The last time he kisses me and I am overtaken by fear and grief.  Tears begin streaming down my face and I am falling apart. I can no longer hold myself together, all the fear, pain, sadness, happiness, and love is pouring out of me and I am crumbling into Henry’s arms and to the floor.  Before I realize it we are both on our knees.  

“Henry, please don’t go.  I am begging you.  Don’t leave me.  Stay here with me.  You don’t have to go back. One person will not make that much of a difference in a war of this magnitude.  We can be happy.” I am pleading with him. I take his face in between my hands and kiss his lips.  My entire body is trembling with fear and sadness.  My face is wet with tears and I am having difficulty breathing. I am panicking Henry’s strong and loving arms are wrapped around me.  His hands move from my back to my shoulders and slide over my neck to my cheeks.  

“Catherine, you know I don’t want to leave you but I must.  Please don’t cry like this, you are killing me.  I never wanted to cause you pain.  I only want to bring you happiness but you must know that I have to go back.  I can’t live with being a deserter and we both know I am fighting for the right side.   I need to go back and then I can come back to you with an easy mind, knowing that I did all I could do for my country.”  

I drop my face into Henry’s chest and hide my face from him.  Sobbing into his chest, I know he is right but I say it anyway 

“If you loved me you wouldn’t go.  You would stay with me.” I can’t bear to look at him because I know that these words hurt him.