Hey there! Before I get sucked in the black hole that are exam periods I wanted to post this drabble.
I was listening to "Love me like you do" by Ellie Goulding and the inspiration struck like a punch in the face. I thought of WWII when writing it but doesn't necessarily very dependent of a specific time.
I apologize for any typos.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
It had started raining again. That's at least what Ana had noticed after checking (for what must have been the 100th time) the clock at the station and double checking the letter to be sure she was indeed at the right place at the right hour.
She forced herself to put her mind to better use by focusing in the people coming and going at the British train station. She recognized the anxious look in the eyes of several women and even young children. That made her instinctively to brush her hand against the fabric of the dress at her waist, trying to smooth the wrinkles that were obviously not there.
She hadn't been able to sleep much after receiving the urgent letter and she had a hard time holding in her breakfast these last two days. And the way she had been twisting and wriggling her handkerchief in her tiny hands were a sign her nerves were running wild.
A chill wind made her bury herself a bit in the rather worn out coat that was a tad too big for her.
About 7 and a half months ago, a letter had brought her to this very place to take away her heart very far away. Now she was here to claim it back.
A voice announced the arrival of a train and she was already moving towards the platform before she had to order her feet to move. She only regretted not being able to move faster due to all the people that walked in the same direction.
The locomotive gave a hearty whistle, still spitting its smoky breath out of its chimney. The station employees were already unloading the bags and trunks and the guard was opening up the door and giving instructions to the exalted crowd both in and outside the train.
Ana felt her stomach knot and instantly started to scan the people that were waving hands from their train sits and cheering. It almost seems impossible for her to feel so excited but at the same so terrified.
The young woman was sure many things had surely changed after the events of those months. It was bound to but to have this certainty did not help to ease her fears.
Passengers start descending to the station to meet once more with their loved ones. The teary reunions made her smile. This was an emotional time for everyone and finally it was over.
Cursing the fact that despite the heels she was wearing, her stature put her on a great disadvantage amidst the sea of people. Not being able to see the person she was looking for only invigorated her fears.
'What if he is different? What if he has changed? Or become dangerous?' A voice inside her head taunted. 'What if he didn't miss you like you missed him?' Her stomach lurches at the idea. "Calm down Ana. It will be alright."
'But what if he doesn't want you anymore? If he wants nothing from you?'
She shakes her head. No, it's impossible. It will still be him. She believes in him.
It takes a couple of minutes and for some families to leave the platform for her to make out the face she's looking for, stepping off the train.
Ana allows herself a moment to look properly. It was still him. The same tall man with dark hair and green eyes.
Her husband had finally returned home.
His name was the only thing she could whisper before she navigated her way to him.
Time slows down its pace as they look at each. She doesn't know what to do or say, rapt in the man standing in front of her.
It is as if both their mind are processing that this is really happening.
Despite the stubble, she can see he has lost weight and the cuts (some of them still sport stitches) are still on the first stages of healing. But what had changed the most were his eyes. There was something that hadn't been there when he left: emptiness.
She could only imagine the things he had seen that had stolen some of the light from his gaze and it made her soul ache. She suspected that he had not delved on gruesome details on his letters to not upset her.
Neither of them had wanted for him to be drafted. He had reluctantly marched to the front, firmly believing that it was a mistake.
But he was finally here again.
Careful to not startle him, she cupped his cheek with her left hand.
"Aster" Her voice came out shakier than she wanted.
As if her voice had released him from a trance, Aster blinked and a tear rolled down his face. Suddenly he had pulled her to him and held to her almost fearing she was just an illusion.
"I missed you." He mutters raggedly against her hair. The longing of his voice and to be able to finally have him in her arms broke her resolution, giving free reigns to the tears she had been holding.
"I missed you too."
He pulled away, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, and looked her up and down. There was something that was different in their embrace.
She smiled and undid the buttons of her coat to show her swollen belly. She was in her seventh month of pregnancy and looked even more beautiful than before.
"We have been waiting for you." She says to him.
Her husband's smile was the last thing she registered before he leaned in for a kiss, making her fears vanish.
He had returned to her and she had giving them one of the greatest gifts life could bestow upon them after the world had been almost torn to shreds.
They were together. They felt complete once more.
Hope you liked it.
Don't forget to R&R. It really helps! :D