When Henry went off to the army, Emily promised faithfully to wait for him. And she kept her wordshe wrote him letters brimming with heartfelt declarations of love, decorated with drawings of roses and hearts, always ending with the word kiss beside a lipstick print. She loved him with her whole heart, the way only a young woman truly can, and in his absence, every minute felt like a lifetime.
Thats why Emily found it hard to believe that Henry could have done this to her.
Her heart told her it couldnt be truethat he couldnt possibly have forgotten her. When her beloved stopped replying to her letters, and then sent a short note telling her to forget about him, she had no choice but to accept the truth.
Emily ended up marrying the first man who came along. Of course, there was no love involved. She sealed away her trampled heart for good, vowing never to get hurt again. After all, she couldnt love anyone the way she had loved Henry.
One afternoon, Emily was in the kitchen when the doorbell rang. Clad in her apron and slippers, she went to answer it. Standing before her was Henry, now older and wearing an army officers uniform.
I didnt believe the rumours that youd married, so I had to see for myself. But I can see its true, he said, pain clear in his eyes, threatening tears. Now I understand why you stopped writing to me
He turned to go, but Emily called out to stop him.
How can you say that? she cried. You were the one who wrote telling me to forget you She couldnt tell if he was making excuses or blaming her.
And? Henry finally asked after a long pause. Last week, I sent my final letter from the army, hoping you were still waiting
A lump caught in Emilys throat. He didnt let her say another word. Tears stung her face as her mind raced with questions: How, why?
That very day, Emily went to her parents house. She was certain they knew more than she didthey had never liked Henry, because he didnt have money.
Forgive us, love, her mother and father said, unable to hide their remorse. We wanted a better life for you. We know what its like to scrape by and struggle to buy the children a sweet. We wanted easier days for you than we had.
But you were poor yourselves, Emily pointed out angrily, and still you found love and got married. Why, then, would you ruin my chance at happiness? How could you do this to me?
Her mother quietly handed her a stack of letters.
Emily took them into the next room. Reading them, she didnt just cryshe wept openly. In the last letter, the one Henry had mentioned, there was a pressed snowdrop, beside which hed written: It took me ages to find one, but I wanted to give it to you.
That evening, Emily had a sincere conversation with her husbanda man who seemed to notice nothing around him but his work, money, friends, and perhaps, as the neighbours had suggested, other women. They parted calmly and quietly.
For the first time in her life, despite her fear of the night, Emily went for a walk through the city alone. Only now, she wasnt afraid, for she was on her way to the one who truly loved her and whom she had never stopped loving.
In time, all wounds and misunderstandings faded. Emily and Henrys household filled with laughter as their two fair-haired sons grew. Grandparents rejoiced in their grandchildren. And everyone understood the greatest wealth in life comes when true, honest love fills a home.
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