Broken Promises

“Left! Right! Left right left!” My captain drones on.

I do my best to keep my marching speed with the rest of the platoon. Between the mud and the somewhat cool weather, it was getting a little tiring. No one really envies going to the front lines, but we trudge on. After all, if we don’t go, who would?

I take a peek around. Everyone has the same face. Heads down, eyes forward. We all look like copies of each other in our worn down coats and boots. Helmets on and guns at the ready. Who knew when the enemy would strike.

I keep finding myself daydreaming about my girl. It was all that was keeping me going, really. Most of us felt like we were marching to our doom. One last stand. Perhaps that’s why I keep thinking about her. The last time we were together.

“Left! Right! Left right left!” My captain drones on.

“Left! Right!”

“Left right left. See, you’re getting it!”

I look up. She looks back at me with a big smile. I can almost see her dimples. Brown curly hair, a bit shorter than me. Casual wear, but something to freely move in. It didn’t matter to me. She’s beautiful in anything.

I nod. “I told you I wasn’t a very good dancer.”

She lets out a small chuckle. “That’s why I’m teaching you. No boyfriend of mine can be going to a banquet without knowing how to dance.”

She struts across the empty dance floor. The light from the windows lets her shadow dance alongside her as spins and twirls. She moves without losing her balance, despite how much she crosses her feet. Her steps echo through the room on the hardwood floor.

She stops in front of me and poses.

I give a small clap. “You are truly something.”

She sighs and looks around. “Can you believe this place is going to be filled with people tomorrow night?”

I chuckle. “Great. Plenty of people will see me step on your feet.”

She scoffs and comes closer. “You aren’t going to step on my feet.”

“Are you sure?” I tease. “I may need a little more practice.”

She smiles again.

Her arms drape over my shoulders. I slide my hands down to just above her slim waist. The two of us casually swing side-to-side. I look into her eyes and she smiles into mine.

“My father is very excited to meet you.” She states.

“Oh really?” I ask.

“Yep.” She leans into me. “He’s all happy that I’m dating a military man. Hoping that it’ll help straighten me out.”

I let out a small laugh. “Well, I’ll have to let him know that there is no containing your free spirit.”

She pushes me away enough to look up at me. “So you’re coming tomorrow?”

I look down and away. “No. I’ve been called up to the front lines.”

She lets out a breath. “I should have known.”

We slow down. I tighten my grip on her. She rests her head against my chest. I rest my chin on her head. I can feel her heart beating against her chest.

“You worried?” I quietly ask.

She nods. “Always.”

I let out a breath. “Don’t be. I’ve been called out before and every time I go and come back.”

“You’ve gone and come back with a new scar to show me. I’m worried-I’m worried one of these times you won’t come back at all.”

I pull away and look into her eyes.

Her eyes water. “Promise me you’ll come back. Please.”

I go to speak and feel my mouth dry up.

She sees me hesitate and a tear slides down her cheek. I shake my head and put a hand to her face. I brush away a tear and feel her soft face. She lowers her head. I lift it back up to me.

“It will be fine.” I reassure her. “Besides, it’d be a shame if I learned all this dancing not to use it.”

She gives a sorrowful smile and buries her head in my chest. I give her a tight squeeze.

“You better come back.” She tells me.

I rest my head against her. “I will.”

I hear a loud thud next to me. I quickly turn. Something explodes. I’m knocked off my feet and onto the cold, muddy ground.

I groan and readjust my vision. When my eyes finally readjust, I’m met with the grey sky as before. I try to catch my breath and look around. Someone’s cold gaze looks back into me. The lower half of their body is missing as their guts and blood are leaking out onto the ground.

I push myself up. Another explosion goes off a few yards away. I see someone fly through the air. Their body flops onto the ground and rolls. My stomach drops. My captain barks orders and blows his whistle.

“Fall back!” He yells. “Fall back!”

I go to get up, but wince and groan in pain. A large piece of shrapnel juts out from my lower thigh. Blood stains my uniform around the area and I feel it flare up. I try to use my gun to hoist myself up, but it doesn’t work. I slide back onto the ground.

Someone grabs me by the arm. “I got you, Lieutenant!”

I look up to them. Their helmet is gone, showing their short black hair. I don’t recognize them, and he looks younger than me. But that doesn’t matter right now.

With their help, I get off the ground. My leg burns. My eyes water and I fight an urge to fall back down. I lean against him as he leads me over to a small bunker a few yards away. I hobble and groan with every step I take.

We’re halfway there. Another explosion goes off. Dirt flies around us. I fall to the ground. The soldier stumbles with me. I let out a harsh yell of pain. I look down and see a piece of shrapnel sticking out from my other leg’s shin.

“It’s alright, Lieutenant.” The soldier guides me. “We’re gonna get out of this!”

I hear people yelling to take cover. Someone lets out a curse. Someone calls out to God. I look over his shoulder. The grey clouds are now filled by a large onslaught of artillery fire, coming right at us.