THE LOST VALENTINE

~*x*~

hey stood there, eye-to-eye.

His hands gripped hers tight, dreadful to let go. His strong gaze followed her tearful one. She took a deep breath, and he pulled her in for an embrace.

A bitter embrace.

They let go, and he headed to the crowd of soldiers that were waiting for him, when she grabbed his hands. "Wait," She choked between sobs. She reached her pocket and pulled something out.

It was a heart-shaped paper, neatly cut into halves.

"Take this one," She handed one of the 2 pieces. "You once said: 'I stole your heart and you stole mine.' Well this is my heart, the one that you've stolen from me." She smiled weakly as he accepted it, "And this is yours." She gripped the other half.

"Promise me," She said shakily, "Promise me that you'll give me my heart back, and I'll promise you to give yours, so these 2 pieces," She took a deep breath, "Would be reunited as one."

He was starstruck, taken aback. But then he kissed her temple and gave her one last goodbye hug. "I promise," He murmured to her ears.

It was February Fourteenth.

~*x*~

Weeks and weeks passed.

News traveled. Some were dead, some survived. But none was about him. Some said that he was dead, buried in the battlefield. Others thought that he survived and was hiding with those who left, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Those who came back claimed that he was missing. Vanished, like the earth swallowed him.

She waited. Every day.

She waited until her hair turned white. She waited until their children gave her grandchildren. She never gave up on him. She believed in him, in his promise that he would bring her heart back.

And then one day, some men came to her.

They told her everything that happened to him.

He was leading the army. Weapon in his hand and full determination filled his eyes. They fought bravely, until a traitor, a man he trusted fully, attacked him.

He was severely injured, and medic said that he didn't have much time. His last words were, "Give her this," As he handed his men the his part of the heart-shaped paper.

And so they did.

~*x*~

His body was brought back to their land.

The nation held a glorious ceremony in order to honor him. Those who knew him told the others of how brave he was, that he was the best leader, that he was a very kind-hearted man.

She was the last to speak.

She didn't say much, only that he was a very caring and loving man, that she was glad to have him as her true love. She then sat there, beside his coffin. She didn't cry, either, even though her children and grandchildren did. Instead she smiled and picked something up from her pocket.

It was the heart-shaped paper, which was already glued together.

"You kept your promise," She muttered to the casket. She laid her head onto the hard wooden box, where he was inside, and closed her eyes.

She never did wake up.

The wind blew the heart-shaped paper, sent it to fly away to the sky. Setting it free, like the heart of the two lovers.

It was February Fourteenth.

Fin.

~*x*~