Ezabel woke up, sweat trickling down the side of her face. She took a deep breath to calmed herself down before pushing her shoulder length hair back. The lingering voice and the image of the decayed soul stayed in her mind as each second went by.
Ezabel then averted her eyes to the clock that read 2.34am before sighing. She glanced at her fiance before forcing a small smile, her nursing uniform hung not far away from where they were.
She leaned forward and studied her fiance's features, smiling to herself before planting a light kiss on his cheeks. Stroking his fine dirty blonde hair, memories flooded her mind, changing her smile into a frown.
"I love you." And Ezabel kissed Carsten's forehead, being careful not to wake him up.
Two more days to go, she thought as she leaned her body weight against the bed's wooden panel.
May 1943. The hospital was busy. Ezabel was running all over the place as more and more soldiers were admitted in. The sight and smell were unbearable, though, the particular thing that made Ezabel's heart fell was the lives that were lost when they tried to save the innocent souls.
"Bel, the patient in room 483." The head nurse, Adalia, instructed before Ezabel nodded.
"His stitches needs some attention. I swear he's the kind that couldn't sit still. Good luck, Hun."
Ezabel stifled a laugh, "No problem Lia. I'll take care of it." Before winking.
Gustav couldn't keep his fingers away from the itchy sensation on his wounded left arm. He was paranoid. Really paranoid.
Flashes of everything came and haunted him. It scared him and he simply wanted all of it to disappear. He never had a moment of peace ever since he came back from the Battle of Britain. Even sleep wasn't spared.
Blood, bullets and the smell of defeat. It dishearten Gustav. Hopes of winning grew slim for the German troops. With the US now in the war, Gustav knew that defeat was daring near. He didn't want to do this anymore. He had lost all of his three bestfriends.
"Gustav Schäfer?"
Gustav averted his eyes to the nurse that snapped him out of his thoughts.
He raised his eyebrows in confusion only to have Ezabel point to his tainted arm before groaning in embarrassment.
"I'm sorry about this." He apologized, raising his blood-stained arm, that simply reminded him of the bloods that once tainted his hands.
Ezabel chuckled.
"It's ok." She assured, walking up to him before tending to his arm.
"You shouldn't scratch it. It would only make the cut worse and it won't heal properly The worst that could happen is that it might get infected and we would have to chop it off."
Gustav cringed and glared at Ezabel, who bit back laughter and smiled instead. She was just teasing him. Ezabel forgot to add that he was actually kind of cute.
"Nurse… Ezabel?"
Ezabel smiled and nodded, "And you're Gustav. Hi."
Gustav snickered, the first one after a long time. Something about Ezabel was warm and he found her presence rathe soothing.
Maybe agreeing to treat Gustav's wound was a mistake for Ezabel for she slowly fell deep for him. Love bloomed and both were simply amazed by one another's presence.
That wasn't suppose to happen when a silver ring was attached to her fourth finger. That wasn't suppose to happen when she was committed. That wasn't suppose to happen when she belonged to someone else.
"You know we can't do this, Gustav." Ezabel laid against his chest as they made themselves comfortable on her bed.
Gustav sighed. To be honest, he couldn't help it. He loved her too much to stay away and he's pretty sure that she felt the same way.
The way that they fit like a puzzle. It was simply perfect. When they met, they clicked in an instant. A friendship was formed and soon, it turned into a relationship that neither one of wanted to leave.
"Carsten might be back soon." Ezabel said, inhaling his scent that never failed to mollify her from all her worries about war, life and her future.
"I know." Gustav kissed her forehead.
Silence invaded and time seemed to stop as the two enjoyed each other's presence, ignoring the chaos that was happening to the world behind their wall.
"You're not leaving, right?" Ezabel shot the question that everyone dreaded to hear.
Gustav groaned. He knew that Ezabel would asked him such a question and he won't deny that he dreaded going himself. Though, he didn't have any choice.
"You're not leaving too, right?" Gustav asked Ezabel, who sat up and brushed her hair back.
"You know I have too. I don't have a choice."
"You have a choice, Bel!" Gustav raised his voice a little higher.
Ezabel's jaws dropped and blood rushed through her body. She can't believe what she was hearing.
"And you think YOU don't have a choice?" She slapped his arm away.
Gustav softened upon seeing his lover's crosses face.
"Bel…" He called out, shifting beside her before embracing her close.
Tears slowly made her way down her cheeks. Gustav wiped them away before planting light kisses from the crook of her neck to her face, admiring every single detail that she had. Simply bewitching.
"I wish that we weren't stuck in this situation." Bel whimpered.
Gustav stroke her silky, smooth hair, ignoring the world as he savored every minute with her.
"If we're meant to be, we'll be together again. Be it in this life or the next. I promise you that my heart will find you and we'll be happy."
He promised.
The big day came and Ezabel stood rooted in front of the church door, her legs unable to move and her brain, simply telling her to do the things that she shouldn't. Holding back tears, she tried calming herself down and composed herself for the big finale of her bachelorette life.
His kisses. His hugs. His lovely words that never failed to fill her whole body with lust and longing. Though none can compare to the love that she once had in her grasp.
"Are you ready?"
She nodded and the big doors open.
There was birds singing. It was springing. Even the kids were outside swinging. The choir sounded marvelous that even words couldn't describe how amazing they were and Carsten. Carsten looked striking with his black tux and his sleek blonde hair that was combed back.
Taking steps to her future husband, she felt a choke-like sensation in her throat. Slowly, she broke.
Ezabel froze at the start of the aisle, the grip on her wedding flowers loosening before they finally fell to the floor. Gasp could be heard and Carsten stood there, shocked.
Memories of Gustav filled her head. She couldn't take it anymore. She would rather choose to be with someone she loved than to be with someone who could take care of her till the day she dies. She was thankful that she had Carsten. She was grateful that he had showered all his love and affection sincerely to her but she couldn't pretend anymore. It was all too much. She wanted to see Gustav. Ezabel needed to see Gustav.
"I'm sorry." Ezabel cried, covering her mouth with the palm of her hand.
She shook her head and send an apologetic look to Carsten. She was really sorry that she had hurt him.
Without a second wasted, she lifted the bottom of her dress and ran. Like any typical movie, she ran away from the wedding, letting her legs take her to the place and to the man that she ache for.
Buildings turned to houses till none were in sight.
Wiping her tears off, she managed to smile when he came into view. Ezabel felt complete everytime she saw him.
"Gustav…" Her legs gave way before she stared at him, kneeling while tracing the words that never failed to tear her heart into pieces.
In Loving Memory of Gustav Schäfer
8 September 1923 - 14 December 1944
"Gustav… Why did you leave me?" Ezabel cried, ignoring the tears that smeared her beautiful wedding make-up.
Gustav left her alone in that world almost three months ago. However, the pain never subsided. Instead, it grew unbearable by the day. The more she tried to pretend, the more she died on the inside.
Ezabel's fake smile fooled almost everyone but it didn't fool her clear heart and soul. They knew the truth and only the truth. Gustav was gone forever.
"You son of a bitch..."
Ezabel's jerked and turned around before her eyes grew wide.
"I gave you everything and this is how you repay me? You said you loved me!" Carsten stood, his eyes filled with pure hatred and anger that it scared Ezabel to her wits.
"Carsten. I-"
"Shut up! I never asked you to speak a word. You're such a traitor! You betrayed me. Do you know how much I love you? He's gone, Bel! GONE!"
Those words scarred Ezabel even more.
"Why can't you just move on and be with me-"
"Because you're not Gustav!" Ezabel cut his words, shouting back as she clenched her fist in frustrations.
Carsten let out an evil chuckle. A chuckle that sent chills up and down Ezabel's spine before his hands reached to the side pocket of his pants.
Ezabel froze.
"I've had enough."
With a pull, the trigger was release and Ezabel felt the world slow down. As she slowly fell to the ground, flashbacks of the past ran through her head.
This must be what death feels like. Gustav felt this. She thought before her body made contact with the grass, just beside Gustav's tombstone.
She heard footsteps and Carsten was no longer in sight. He ran.
Ezabel stared at his tombstone and stroke the stone with her delicate fingers before remembering Gustav's words…
"If we're meant to be, we'll be together again. Be it in this life or the next. I promise you that my heart will find you and we'll be happy."
"Promise me you'll find me." And everything went blank.
24 August 2010
It was scorching hot and sweat trickled down the side of Ezabel's face. It was the first time that she had been in Madgeburg . However, the place was rather familiar.
Strolling through and old cemetery, she glanced at the tombstone's that must had been over sixty years of age. Almost back to the time when WorldWar2 happened.
"Woah… Ohmp!"
Ezabel shook her head and immediately stood up, apologizing, "I'm so sorry!"
Gustav just smiled, "No no. I'm sorry. I wasn't looking."
Nothing happen until he met her eyes. Those familiar orbs that didn't seemed like strangers to him. He knew her. Or at least, Gustav felt like he did.
Under the sky, the two Old Souls reunited as promised. What will happen next? It's up to you to decide :)
