Chapter 1

Danny was dead. Rafe could not accept it, Danny had always been there. There was no explanation. He was just there, and now, he's not there anymore. It hurt him more than Evelyn did. More than that fight with Danny at the bar, where he had got himself a splitting headache lasting for two days. Now he knew what Danny felt like when he did not return from England. He was sorry now. He would give anything to have Danny back here with him. As long as Danny would come back…

It had been a week, and Rafe had not gotten used to not seeing Danny every morning when he woke up. They shared a room back in New York, before they set off on that suicide mission, and the empty bed against the wall was a painful reminder of what happened. Rafe shifted his eyes, tears filling up once more. Danny, I am so sorry.

Danny had died to save Rafe. It was all his fault. If he had enough sense to bail out of the plane over the sea, Danny would not have died. They would not have been captured by the Japs, and nothing would have happened.

Rafe walked aimlessly down the street. It was a Sunday, and every where, people were enjoying themselves. He could remember Danny walking alongside him, along the same street. That was before they had quarreled over Evelyn, before Pearl Harbor was bombed. They had still been training in Long Island. That day was also a Sunday, and they had stopped by a watch shop…there. Watson's Watches.

"Look at that watch, Danny. I wish I had one like that. My watch had spoilt long ago, and I hadn't gotten down to getting a new one."

Danny did not reply. He just smiled quietly. "Come on, Rafe. We cannot keep the others waiting. We have a buffet to go to."

Rafe closed his eyes. It was only about a year ago, but it seemed like ages. Afterwards, so many things happened. He left for England, Danny got involved with Evelyn, his girl. They had a fight, and then Danny went on that mission and died. Rafe's mind went back to the day he returned from the mission, Danny's death fresh on his mind.

Opening the door to his room, Rafe locked himself in. He needed to have some time to himself. Everything was just where they had left them. Dumping his luggage on the floor, Rafe sat down on his bed and cried.

Why did Danny have to die?

Rafe opened his drawer to look at the pictures he had taken with Danny. That way, he could pretend that Danny was still alive and there with him…

The first thing that greeted his eyes when he opened the drawer was a small blue case. Watson's Watches. Unable to believe his eyes, Rafe took up the case and opened it. The watch he had pointed out to Danny a few months ago sat proudly in the middle of the case, and on it, there was a note.

"Dear Rafe,

I am sorry I took so long to get this for you. It is just that I am not very well off, and it takes some time to save enough money for that. I just want you to know that I am sorry I spoilt our relationship. I never meant to do anything like that. I really thought that you were dead, it was not done on purpose.

Sorry. I just could not think of anything to show you how sorry I am. I hope that you will forgive me. Or at the very least, keep this watch. I went for a week without lunch and supper just to save up the money to get this for you. So don't you dare throw it away.

I meant to give it to you personally, but there wasn't enough time. I slipped it in the drawer just after you left, so as to keep it a surprise. Hope that you would like it.

I wish you an early happy birthday. In case you don't want to have me around, you won't see me at your party. So I will just give you your present in advance.

Happy birthday, Rafe.

Signed,

Danny Walker"

Rafe tried to hold back his tears. Everything he saw reminded him of Danny. Danny's smile, Danny's actions, Danny's laugh, that mischievous twinkle in his eye…Rafe missed him. A whole lot.