My body felt limp and numb. My right side ached and throbbed like nothing else. As my senses faintly came back to me, I could feel something very cold and wet on the right side of my body. I hurt too much to think, and with my vision blurring over, there was no way I could even look. My long drawn breaths became shorter by the minute and my focus was slipping away from me. I felt the warmth of another's presence against my own, and gently my upper half became cradled in a warm embrace. I knew someone was there, yet I didn't have the strength to open my eyes. I could hear the soft whispers of loving words, each spoken like a small request, as if pleading for me, my very essence….but my mentality was nothing but a vague fog, nothing of which could get surpass it. I tried so hard to escape this pain, to break free from this prison of miasma. Something…no -someone was there waiting for me on the other side. With all the strength I had in my dying body, I elevated enough to lift open my eyelids. The darkness that surrounded me was cut through by the light of the fading sun in the west, and right in front of me, holding me was my dear William.

His face, as I could scarcely make out, was very close to mine. I could feel the warmth of his face emitting its soft heat onto my icy skin. It soothed me to know he was still alive, and that seemed enough to alleviate and temporarily subside my raw pain He brushed his fingertips across my cooling cheek, soothing my ache to a mere pang. William must have noticed that I was responding, because he began to shout towards the other men nearby for help. He whispered other affectionate things into my ear, and gently kissed me on the forehead. A faint smile grew over my tense face, and darkness overcame the horizon's light.

I awoke several hours, the pain now a dull throb. We (the remaining soldiers, army officials and William) had made camp, as I had gathered, shortly after dark. My arm was still unmovable but at least I was alive. I saw that my wound had been bandaged, and the

I explained my reasons for acting so rash, I told him that losing him again would cost me too much pain and suffering in my heart to bear. William only nodded and looked away into the distance. His brilliant hair catching the silver of the moon and the dance of the wind, he turned to me. I could see the silvery moon reflection in his eyes.

"Maria, I don't know how to thank you enough."

Stunned, I began to ask, but I was cut short.

"You saved my life, and countless others. I thank you with all my heart….and my love."

This was the second time he had said these words, and under the night sky no less. My heart was pounding and my breath quickened, which unfortunately caused my wound to start hurting again…

William must have noticed and immediately he held me limply, telling me to lie down and rest.

Regaining my composure I said,

"No William, I'm alright, really. Don't worry about me." Then, seeing a bloodstain on his arm I asked, "William…" I reached out to see, but he caught my hand midway.

"Oh, that's nothing really. Everyone that survived has a little something on them….but you I must say had it pretty bad."

His voice trailed off for a second,

"I-I thought you weren't going to make it…I nearly lost it."

"William, I-I'm so sorry…"

We held each other there in the darkness and the seconds were lost into minutes. It seemed like eternity, but we never wanted it to end.

Out of the silence I whispered,

"I love you."

Out of the stillness came an echo.

"I love you"

and we were together again.