**The Gaze of Green Eyes from the Past**
Edward woke before dawn and thought to himself:
*Well, its been a long time since Ive slept so soundlyand here, in a haystack in the middle of a field, without comforts or a proper blanket. Then again, why would I need one? Its summer, warm, and the hay is fragrant and soft.*
He rose and brushed the hay away. His mind was clear, untroubled by the recent parting from his wife, free from sorrow. Had he ever truly loved her? The question lingered.
*So, all those ten years together were just an illusion of marriage? We got on well enough, but no children cameexcept for Graces daughter, though she once admitted she didnt even know the fathers name. Shed had the child for herself.*
Edward had always sensed something forced in Graces affection. They quarrelled often, and after each argument, his thoughts would drift to the green eyes and gentle smile of Nurse Emily, who had tended to him in the hospitalchanging dressings, giving injections, soothing his pain. Hed been wounded in the war, back when he served in the Highlands.
Sitting in the haystack, Edward smiled at the memory of Emilyher calming voice, those emerald-green eyes, her thick chestnut hair. Hed never seen eyes like hers again. To him, she had been the one who helped him endure the hardest days.
On the day he was discharged, he gathered a handful of wildflowers and went to find her. He meant to ask her to come home with him, knowing it wouldnt be simple, but still hoping.
*”Emilys gone,”* another nurse told him. *”She was transferred to another medical unit.”*
*”Where?”* he pressed.
*”I dont know. And even if I did, I couldnt say. You know how things are here.”*
Utterly disappointed, he resolved to search for her. But how? He knew only her name and the colour of her eyes. In the end, he had to return homedischarged due to his injuries. Life there was unchanged: his father drank, his mother worked and scolded.
Then one day, his old comrade Richard arrived. Theyd served together, seen too much, and now Richard was heading home too.
*”Edward! Good to see you,”* Richard clapped him on the back. *”How are you holding up after the wound?”*
*”Well enough,”* Edward shrugged.
*”Why not come to my village? Yours is too small, no work here. Unless somethingor someonekeeps you?”* Richard grinned.
*”No one. Just cant forget Emily.”*
*”Ah, she really got under your skin, didnt she? But youve got to keep looking, writingdont give up.”*
So Edward went with Richard, the closest friend he had left, to start anew. Time passed. He bought a small, run-down cottage, fixed it up, and made it home.
But Richard fell in love and moved with his wife, Margaret, to the nearest town.
*”Edward, Im sorry for dragging you here only to leave myself. But who knew Id meet Margaret? Well still see each other.”*
*”Dont fret,”* Edward said cheerfully. *”Besides, I might be settling down too. Ive proposed to Grace.”*
Now, standing in the fields, Edward shook off the memory. He could almost hear Graces bitter words from yesterday:
*”Youll never find another like mesomeone whod put up with you for so long. No one else will tolerate your moods. And anyway, Ive got a proper man now who loves me.”*
She called his quiet moments *”moods”*when the weight of the past pressed on him, and he withdrew. Grace hated it, prodding him, sparking rows. He never understood why his memories unsettled her so.
Yesterday, shed finally said what hed long suspected. He listened in silence, then packed a bag and left, her curses following him.
*Strange. I thought Id rage, shout, blame her. But I didnt. Im calm. Almost relieved its over.*
He walked out of the village as evening fell, veering into the fields where fresh haystacks stood. Hed sleep there tonight, then head to town tomorrowto Richard. A true friend would understand.
*This is it. No more pretending. Grace was always with that town official anyway, the one overseeing the new farms.*
For the first time in months, he felt light, as if a weight had lifted. Nestled in the hay, he thought:
*Tomorrow is tomorrow. Tonight, Ill rest. Richard will stand by me, as always.*
He lay down, using his bag as a pillow, but sleep wouldnt come. The stars emerged, and with them, memorieshis hand, saved by a miracle in the hospital, twitched with old pain. He forced his mind elsewhere.
Then Grace came to mindhow theyd met. Cheerful, lively, older by three years, shed made him believe happiness was still possible. Hed never asked about her past, never probed about her daughters father. Hed tried to love her, certain theyd grow old together.
But hed failed her. Shed mocked his *”moods”*, those moments when the wars shadows returned.
Thoughts spun until, at last, he sleptdreamlessly, lulled by the hays scent. When he woke, Emilys green eyes filled his mind.
*Well, time to go.*
He reached the road, caught a coach to town, bought a bottle of wine and a box of chocolatesfor Richard and Margaret.
At their door, Richard answered, grinning.
*”Edward! Come in!”* Then, peering past him: *”You alone?”*
Edwards silence was answer enough.
*”Right. Kitchens this way. Breakfasts ready. Margaret, look whos here!”*
Their seven-year-old, Thomas, barrelled into Edward.
*Its good to be welcomed*, he thought.
Over wine, they reminisced. Edward handed Margaret the chocolates, then noticed her rounded belly.
*”Am I seeing things, or”*
*”Youre not,”* she laughed.
*”Well done,”* Edward said warmly.
*”A surprise, but a happy one,”* Richard said. *”Were expecting a girl.”*
*”Youre not old yet,”* Edward teased.
*”Neither are youpast thirty now,”* Margaret said.
Edward only shrugged.
Later, Margaret left them to talk, though she kept glancing meaningfully at Richard. Finally, she burst out:
*”For heavens sake, Richard, just tell him!”*
*”Tell me what?”* Edward frowned.
*”Good news,”* Margaret blurted. *”Weve found Emily.”*
Edwards throat went dry. He drained his glass.
*”We didnt want to say anything,”* Richard admitted. *”Not while you were with Grace. But she sent us a letter. Shes alive, wellliving in a village not far. Margaret tracked her down.”*
Edward hung on every word.
*”Edward,”* Margaret added softly, *”shes alone. Asked about you. Said she never found another man like you so shes waited. All this time.”*
It wasnt until he was on the train that Edwards breathing steadied. Fields rushed past the window. In his hand was Emilys letter, memorised by now.
She was waiting. She loved him stilljust as hed never stopped loving her.
Edward was going to her at last.
