- 9.
It was Sarah.
She was still pretty, but looked worn down,
the arrogance gone, her eyes dull. Her hair
was pulled back carelessly, a stark contrast
to her once–stylish self.
She held a child’s hand, a little boy who didn’t
look like David.
I’d wondered how I’d feel seeing her again.
Angry? Dismissive?
く
But I just watched her approach, feeling
strangely numb.
“Anna! I can’t believe it’s you!”
“I thought I was mistaken.”
She spoke like we were old friends, as if the
past was a bad dream.
Despite her friendly tone, I just gave a
noncommittal “hmm.”
She didn’t seem to mind.
She looked me up and down. “Anna, you’re
back!”
I didn’t ask what she meant.
<
I offered a candy to the little boy.
He looked at Sarah shyly.
She nodded, and he took the candy,
murmuring, “Thank you, ma’am.”
“You’re welcome,” I smiled.
“This is my son with Sergeant Johnson,” she
said.
“You’re with Sergeant Johnson?” I asked,
surprised.
She nodded. “When are you going to see
David?”
I stared at her. “Why would I see him?”
<
My question shattered her composure.
“You have to see him! He’s been waiting for
you!”
“Anna, why did you leave?” she cried.
My face hardened.
“Sarah, you know exactly why I left.”
She started crying, which set off her son.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know things would turn out
this way.”
“I just wanted to be with David. I didn’t mean
for any of this to happen.”
Che told me that David had lost a leg on that
く
She told me that David had lost a leg on that
mission.
He was medically discharged and had
become a recluse.
He hadn’t come back because he was injured,
not because of Sarah.
After much pleading from Sarah, I agreed to
see him.
David was a shadow of his former self, the
vibrancy replaced by despair.
His eyes lit up when he saw me.
“Anna! You came back!”
Г
I sighed. “Just visiting. I’m leaving in a few
days.”
The light in his eyes dimmed.
“I didn’t stand you up on purpose. I just… I
just…..” he stammered.
“I know. You were injured,” I said. “But even if
you had come, I wouldn’t have left with you.”
His eyes reddened. “Anna, I’m sorry.”
It was the first apology I’d ever heard from
him.
But it was too late.
“Let the past be the past, David,” I said softly.
“Take care. Goodbye.”
Ignoring his pleas, I walked away.
I longed for Alaska, for my students, and
for… John.
I would never come back to this town.
