Chapter 10

January 1918

"The scar tissue makes a nice trail on your side but at least it's not so prominent. Your leg is fine, now we have one last thing to fix" Miles listed half hopeful. His friend was there, alive and back in health, but the fact that there was nothing he could for the amnesia, was frustrating.

Tom shrugged his shoulders, as if he was already accustomed to a life where he had no past. Or at least that was what he hoped Miles would see in him. He pulled back the jacket and leaned on his pillow.

"One step at the time" He said quietly.

"Well Tom, it's late and I have an early shift tomorrow, I better go back to my tent and read something"

"Is it the hundredth re-read of Tarzan, or have you finally changed subject?"

Miles smirked.

"Hah, funny. No, my mother has sent me all of my Dickens books, so I'm into some gloomy reading"

He walked away but then he stopped right when he was touching the door's handle. He turned around and went back to Tom with a few long strides. Tom was grinning at him. Miles thought he looked stupid.

"You bastard!" He hissed.

"Shhhh, I don't want everybody to hear it!" He said putting a finger on his mouth.

Miles sat down again and ran a hand through his hair. He couldn't stop smiling and yet he was feeling confused by the revelation.

"When did it happen, and how? Why you didn't you tell me immediately?"

"It's been just a few days. But I waited because I wanted to get used to it myself" He made a pause "And I want it to be a surprise, especially for Kitty"

"Did you suddenly remember something?"

"Something like that. You know the thunderstorm we had a few days ago at night?" Tom asked and Miles nodded.

"I woke up in the middle of night, it was like being under the German shelling. It was all so immediate, I don't know…but then I saw the moment I was wounded right in front of me. How we were taking away soldiers, and the suddenly there was an explosion where everything went black"

Miles whistled and slid back on the chair.

"My friend, I don't know where to begin. It's wonderful. And astounding to think at the way it happened. Do you think you are remembering everything or are some pieces missing?"

"Yeah I do, all the pieces are going back to their place" He said sighing.

Miles stood up and placed a hand on Tom's shoulder.

"You're back Tom, you're back!"

"It's a miracle. I don't know what to say!"

"I think we'll have to make a visit, see how your eyes and reflexes respond to solicitations. I wonder if something has drastically changed"

Once he was done, seeing that everything seemed normal, Miles asked:

"What about Kitty, when do you plan to tell her?"

Tom shrugged.

"I haven't decided yet. I was thinking of surprising her…It's been a tough period for Kitty, as if she didn't have already enough preoccupations"

"Kitty is a storm braver. Trust me, this will be the best news she'll receive for ages!" Miles winked at him.

"I hope so" Tom smiled relieved.

The day after

Tom peaked at the window, and when he saw Kitty approaching the ward, he quickly pulled the dressing gown over and looked at himself in the small mirror near the door. Then he laughed at himself, he was wearing sleepwear in the end. He sat back on his bed and opened the book he was reading, but he couldn't get past the first line.

Kitty walked in and saw Tom sitting as if he was waiting for somebody to arrive. When he saw her, Tom stood up like a soldier and looked at her beaming. He'd forgotten to hold on the cane he still needed to use for walking. Kitty thought that she was recognizing some of the old Tom. But of course it was not the case.

"Kitty, I'd like to have a stroll, but I don't feel like going on my own, would you come with me?" He asked bluntly. Kitty was surprised, but nodded in agreement. They went outside, and Kitty was heading to the center of the Hospital, while Tom suddenly asked.

"I'd like to go elsewhere"

"Well, yes. Where?"

"In the woods" He said with a low voice, that made Kitty shiver. She hadn't been back in the woods since…she didn't remember exactly, but at least since Tom had left for the Casualty Clearing Station.

That place brought her back memories of the moments she had spent there with Tom, probably the best moments she'd ever had in that hospital.

They walked slowly toward the woods, while Tom tried to maintain the balance on the uneven ground while walking with the cane. Kitty was about to help him but he declined smiling.

"Thank you but I really want to do it. I want to get over the fear of feeling the sore leg" He winked.

Kitty tried to turn their steps on the right, as she wanted to avoid the spot where she and Tom had kissed the first time. But Tom insisted to walk on the left "Please" and took her by the arm.

Dear God, of all places! Kitty mumbled when Tom stopped exactly in the clearing where they had shared precious moments. Luckily he didn't hear her.

"Well isn't that a nice spot?" He said happily and looking around. "I wonder if people come here often to have a quiet moment!" He asked then Kitty.

"I…I don't think so, I haven't seen many. We are so busy that the quietest we manage to get is in our tents when we go to sleep" She asserted.

"Good to know. I like to think that this is still our place"

Kitty raised an eyebrow. "I'm not following you"

"You're not?" Tom smirked. Kitty looked helpless.

"This where I first kissed you, where I told you I love you , where you told me you love me, and I hope you still do. Where I hope I can tell you all the other things I have in my heart" He said taking her hand.

Kitty looked at him still, and then she felt her leg had crushed and fell on the ground breathless. For a moment Tom thought she had fainted but as soon as he kneeled near her he saw she was crying.

"You crazy fool!" She cried.

"Well, this is an improvement. Miles called me a bastard" Tom joked.

"He knows too?" Tom nodded. " I can't say he is entirely wrong". Kitty laughed through her teary eyes and then she placed her hand on his cheek. Tom leaned on it and then he kissed her palm.

"I have to agree. But it was quite fun to see his face when he realized I had fooled him, just as it was to see yours"

"When did you get your memory back, how did it happen?" She asked.

Tom took Kitty in his arms and told her everything from the beginning. When he finished, Kitty said.

"I can't even begin to describe how I feel Tom. I'm so happy you have finally found your way back to me"

"I guess I was always with you, even when my memory was gone. From the moment I woke up and I looked into your eyes I saw a connection with you, long before realizing you were keeping something from me"

"It broke my heart to keep my distance from you, you know?"

"I know"

Tom turned his head to Kitty's and kissed her. At first it was a bit uncertain, but then his craving of her took over. How he had missed those lips.