A Love Story

“Let me tell you a story,” Emmanuel said gently. “Laetitia was about seventeen when she met Clément. The two of them thought they were meant to be for each other. There was nothing but joy and happiness in the days they were together.” Emmanuel smiled as he saw the attentive look on Kathy’s face.

“They thought that it would go on forever until Clément was called up,” Emmanuel continued in a mellow tone. “He was to fight in the World War II. The news weighed heavily on Laetitia’s mind. But she hoped for the best and counted the days Clément would return from the battlefield. When the restless wait was over, those who survived the war came back one by one in the neighborhood.” Emmanuel paused at his narrative and took Kathy to sit on a bench.

“Clément never returned?” Kathy asked anxiously.

“Laetitia asked every person and unit she could possibly seek about Clément’s situation,” Emmanuel started again slowly. “She was finally told that Clément was reported missing. Laetitia didn’t give up in the following years for she was convinced that Clément was still alive. On a summer day two years later, Clément did come into Laetitia’s life again.”

“What had happened to him then?” Kathy grasped Emmanuel’s arm.

“Nobody knew and neither did Clément himself,” Emmanuel continued as Kathy frowned in perplexity. “Clément had lost his memory and he didn’t even recognize Laetitia when they met again. But she could only be thankful for seeing him alive and starting all over again. The only problem was that the days were never the same. However hard Clément tried to rekindle their love, Laetitia knew that it never went as deeply affectionate as before and it never would. She didn’t want to pain him for pretending it for the rest of his life. Slowly and sadly she turned their relationship into an intimate friendship.”

Kathy’s face dropped and she looked blankly ahead of her although she was listening to every word Emmanuel uttered. “What surprised Laetitia was her ability to let go of the love she had held so dearly to her heart. She even felt genuinely happy for Clément at his wedding.  It frightened her to realize that her heart was capricious. She doubted if she could ever be trusted in love.” Emmanuel stole a glance at Kathy who was sitting still in silence.

“Laetitia met another young man later,” Emmanuel went on with his story. “They both knew that they had a growing fondness for each other. But the young man was aware of her hesitation and the reason as well. He didn’t want to push her and kept their relationship as it was. One day when he visited Laetitia at her home, she was looking at one of her plants, heartbroken. ‘I was away for a few days and it’s dying now.’ The young man took the plant back home to see if he could save it. The two of them met again some days later. The young man told Laetitia that the plant was beyond redemption. In her obvious disappointment, he said, ’A living soul needs endless devotion. Will you mourn for the irreversible loss or nourish a promising being?’ He then produced a brand new plant for her. Laetitia was moved to tears and gave him an affectionate kiss.” Tears welled up in Kathy’s eyes too.

“In her last days, Laetitia told the young man, ‘My restless heart beats imperfectly time and again. But when you came, I was able to show my weakness without being afraid. I knew that was the day I’d be loved ever after. And sometimes I think I glimpse eternity in your eyes.’ The truth was that she left him with a timeless love.” Emmanuel wore a tender smile which was unearthly.

“Is that a true story?” Kathy asked in a whisper.

“Yes,” Emmanuel looked at her. “Laetitia was my wife.” Kathy was breathless and she could not hold her tears anymore. Emmanuel put his arm gently over her shoulder and let her cry like a child. “Have courage my girl; and you can do it too.”