Eternity

'Forget me. Leave. This wasn't supposed to be.' Even in the middle of a crowded disco, with sound blaring at her from every angle, his words, spoken in a voice low with emotion, hit her like bullets.

The world around faded; darkened to grey. She saw only him heard only him even smelt only him. Over the smoke and sweat common to any disco his familiar scent, unique to him, was strong. Was it just her imagination or could she hear his heart quickening. The anguish in his eyes was no illusion.

He leant forward and her breath speeded up. Lightly he brushed her lips with his own, soft, warm, comforting. But still a pale echo of the past. As he drew away she broke. Her arms hooked around his neck, fingers stroking his soft, silky brown hair and tracing the top of his spine. She drew him into a kiss, one last desperate stand to try to hang on to him, to her happiness, to her hope.

Gently he pushed her away and placed his arms back down by her sides. His hands, sliding down her arms, sent the shivers down her spine they always did.

Involuntarily she looked up into his eyes, deep and green. She was never going to see them again. They were over-bright with unshed tears. Well they would have to be unshed wouldn't they. Couldn't have a soldier crying in front of senior officers!

They stood on either side of him, dressed alike- monotonous uniform, hairstyle, stance, staring straight ahead as if on guard duty. Stern, unforgiving, emotionless- the antithesis of the farewell they were overseeing.

His fingers traced her cheek; the touch saying what he could not. Her hand went up to his and softly pushed it against her mouth where she kissed the palm. As she looked back up again she silently mouthed

'Remember me.'

He brushed a lock of her light brown hair from her eyes with a sad smile.

'Always.'

The man on his right placed a heavy hand on his shoulder and the moment was over. Their time together was over. She blinked back tears, if he was not allowed to cry, then she wouldn't. The three men turned and strode away, each of the guards with a hand on his shoulder. None of them looked back as they gradually faded into the grey.

'I love you,' she whispered to the air as tears now ran, unstoppable, down her cheeks. Three words that she had been too scared to use before fell uselessly from her lips. She had never had the chance to tell him. The fear of rejection had been too great.

Unseen she quietly left the disco and went outside into the freezing wet night. Darkness loomed all around her and the town that had seemed so cheerful and welcoming an hour ago now only felt like prison, a prison for her empty husk of a body.

She had nothing to fear from the cold because it was colder inside her heart. Her soul was frozen.

TBC