Scarlet Rose

1917 was a less hopeless year.In March, the Germans withdrew from the Somme, and we finally didn't smell so strong of blood anymore.The United States and China announced their participation in the war, and our supplies have been enriched a lot.In general, our combat pressure has decreased, and it seems that the situation is improving.

"Is it going to be over this year? Or next year." In our spare time, the few of us chatted with the soldiers lying on the hospital bed.

"It's a pity, my leg won't get better soon." A soldier showed regret.

"Ha, there are a lot of saddles in the supplies sent by the Americans. They thought we were fighting on horseback." A wounded man didn't know whether it was ridicule or ridicule.

"What are you talking about, they relieved us a lot of pressure." A military doctor said and lit his inferior cigarette.

"Go outside to smoke, it will affect their recovery." I pushed him, and he left the ward happily.Not to mention whether the smoke will affect the wound healing, the wounded are all hungry for nicotine, so they can't smoke in front of them.

I thought that if things continued like this, we would be able to survive until the end of the war in no time. Unexpectedly, it was almost the end of the year. I received a telegram from Alice saying that Mr. Eric was seriously injured and was about to be sent back to England.

At that moment, great panic surged in my heart, and my sky collapsed.I tried everything I could to find out where he was for the first time since the war began.He is not far from me, he has been treated, and he will go back by boat with other wounded people after a while.I applied for transfer to that battalion.My application was very thoughtless, and the people above probably thought that I wanted to be transferred there because it was convenient for my family to bring things.There is no shortage of people here for the time being, they will see that I am the earl's nephew.

So I arrived at the camp one afternoon, before Monsieur Eric left France.I hastily packed my luggage and went to see him.

He lives in a unified ward.I stood at the door for a while before opening the door and going in.Walking into the room, among so many hospital beds, I saw him at a glance.He was lying on the bed, covered with a blanket.His eyes were covered with gauze, under the gauze was a tall nose and slightly pursed lips.Some cold sunlight outside the window shone on his hospital bed, and the gauze covered his eyes was so white that it reflected light.He was tanned and thinner, which made the lines of his cheeks look more resolute, but it didn't detract from his handsomeness at all.

It was the first time I saw him so weak, and in my memory he was always strong, both externally and internally; now he is lying on the bed covered in bruises, his beautiful eyes are covered under gauze, maybe he will never see again There is nothing left.He is too quiet like this, he doesn't have the alienated and noble aura like before, he seems to be gentler, but it makes my heart hurt so much that I'm about to suffocate.

I walked over slowly, sat down on the chair beside his bed, hesitated for a moment, stretched out my hand and brushed the messy hair on his forehead, just as I was about to withdraw my hand, my hand was grabbed by his hand Lived - still as warm as I remembered.

"So you're awake, Mr. Eric." I was a little embarrassed and didn't know how to face him.My eyes are sore, my voice is muffled and nasal.I knew I was going to cry.

"Roman, I'm so glad to see you." He held my hand tightly and pressed it against his left chest through the quilt, "You haven't contacted me for so long, I thought you forgot about me."

"No, I never forgot you. Why didn't you take good care of yourself? Seeing you like this, I really..." I couldn't go on.I could feel his heartbeat through the blanket, beating steadily.

"Let me touch your face," he said.His voice is gentle and sweet, and seems to have the ability to soothe people.

I obediently bent down slightly, took his hand, and covered my face with it.

He carefully painted my facial features, as if confirming something.

"You've lost weight." He said with certainty.

"You too." I said.

He didn't say anything more, just kept drawing my face at a slow speed.After a while, he said, "Don't cry."

I was stunned and found that his hands had been stained with my tears.

"We had already won the victory at that time, and the enemy retreated. I directed my subordinates to prepare to set up camp. At this time, a gas bomb exploded next to me..." He whispered to me how he was injured.

"Does it hurt?" I still held his hand with one hand, and carefully covered his gauze with the other hand.

"Both my feet and my left hand were blown up, my eyes were smoked out. It was a miracle I was still alive and my airway wasn't damaged - I thought the color of the smoke wasn't right and I held my breath right away. Luckily we left The direction is against the wind."

I can't say anything.I don't know whether to be happy or distressed.He seemed to feel my nervousness, and comforted me in a much softer tone than his usual: "I'm still alive, so don't worry about me."

"Don't go back, you look like this, Jialin will be worried." I said, there was another sentence I didn't say: let me take care of you.

"I have to go back in a few days. The bed here is always tight." He said with a smile, "I can only worry her."

"I guess that silly girl will cry, but I didn't expect you to cry too." He paused and said.

"...um." I didn't know how to answer.

"You..." I wanted to ask him if he regretted it, but I felt that there was nothing to ask, because he must be proud of being able to participate in the war, and the injury was beyond his control.

"I'm glad you're here." He took my hand and brought it to his lips, and I could feel the itching of my fingers when he spoke. "I've always wanted to be that heroic, all soldiers are, so that we can end this war soon and go back to our loved ones. It's been more than three years and I've seen many soldiers before my eyes Died, but almost no deserters. Everyone piled blood and life to build a way forward to victory. I was desperate when I was injured by the bomb, and I had to withdraw from the field when the war was close to victory. I could hardly feel myself hands and feet, but I can feel the loss of blood. I don’t know how much blood I bleed because I can’t see it. I think it’s worth sacrificing for the country like this. But I’m afraid I’ll die like this, I don’t see it Jialin is married, and there is no heir to the title. After my death, the country will take back that title and fiefdom, so that Jialin will be helpless. I still have a lot of things to do and words to say. Desperate to live. I kept myself awake so I wouldn’t die in a coma. Now, with you in front of me and you crying for me, I suddenly feel like all my previous struggles were worth it. I’m so happy.”

Listening to Mr. Eric's words, I just felt my heart beating so fast.He's been through so much pain without me knowing it, and I can't share it with him.But if my existence can bring him a little bit of happiness and peace of mind, I feel that I am valuable.

For the next few days, I will see Mr. Eric whenever I have time.He was lethargic most of the time, as he was mentally drained from the massive blood loss.Even if he lay down all day, he showed his gentlemanly demeanor and breeding as much as possible.Although he can't see and has only one arm intact, he refuses to be fed.He hoped that the nurses or nuns would not waste their time on him.He quietly told me that he was actually learning to adapt to the darkness.It is almost impossible for his eyes to recover, and he has to let himself get used to it.

When he is in good spirits, he will let me read to him.All we could find were some newspapers, and some old books on medicine or nursing.No matter what I read, he will listen very carefully, and sometimes express some opinions, or talk about what he thinks of.But he is too weak, so most of the time he just listens and doesn't say anything.He would take mine with his good hand, and every time I read a short passage he would give me a little pinch to show that he was awake, that he was listening.If he doesn't move for a while, I know he's asleep.I marked the book, slipped his hands under the covers, then hurried to mine, and looked forward to reading to him next time.

In my busy schedule I missed getting Mr Eric aboard.When I saw the empty beds, I regretted why I didn't apply to be the accompanying ship doctor.The vacant beds were quickly filled with the wounded.Before I left this ward, a nun called me and said that Mr. Eric had left something for me before he left.It is a rabbit puppet smaller than a palm.The puppet is bulging with cotton, and has patches on its back. It should have been there for a long time, but it is very clean.I'm not sure if it's Mr. Eric's because he doesn't look like someone who would wear a stuffed animal like this.

"The gentleman said it was a talisman," the nun said hastily and left.

I looked down at the puppet and suddenly remembered the rabbit named Roman.I let out a long breath, touched the puppet cherished, and then carefully put it in my pocket.

It's close to the pier, almost the border of France, not much affected by artillery fire, and the situation in all aspects is much better than the front line - at least there are local taverns open here, with young girls and good taste Nice little restaurant, although the wine in the pub is watered down, the girls are all serious and hurried, and the prices in the small restaurant are ridiculously high.But people always have to think for the better, don’t they?

On rest days, my comrades-in-arms and I went out to buy supplies, such as coffee and tobacco, which were sold at the market but were very expensive.I think this can be regarded as a comfort left to me by Mr. Eric after he left - in the front camp before, only the black market had these materials, and the price was even more expensive.At least I have people I know well who will always save a little for me, and the price is not so unacceptable.I don't care where his supplies come from, after all, what I do myself is nothing that can be said to the outside world.

"Did you see that girl? It's perfect!" The military doctor and the soldiers stayed for a long time, and their words began to become vulgar.

I glanced at the woman my companion pointed out, she was indeed beautiful, but unfortunately my heart didn't beat faster for her.

As we passed her, my companion whistled at her and got her a blank stare.I thought to myself that if it was me who whistled, I might get a wink, but unfortunately I don't feel like whistling right now.

It's Christmas again, and I make a very devout Christmas wish: world peace.

The author has something to say: Regarding Mr. Eric’s departure: there was a ship before Roman was transferred, and he could have returned to the UK at that time, but he heard that Roman had applied for a transfer, but the procedure would take a few days, so he would After waiting for a few days, I decided to take the next boat.He wants to meet Roman before leaving England.

About the materials: Roman bought the materials from the black market before the transfer, and the so-called acquaintances are actually Mr. Eric's subordinates.Mr. Eric knew Roman’s going out routine, so he would save his own supplies (officers always have more supplies, and he also has his own way to get supplies) and let his subordinates pretend to be businessmen to sell to Roman.Roman didn't know about this all the time, and only occasionally lamented how lucky he was to be able to drink such high-purity milk during the war.

About the little puppet: The rabbit puppet was made for Mr. Eric by his favorite grandmother when he was a child. It has been with him since he grew up and was regarded as a talisman by him.He also took it with him during the war, and he believed that the little rabbit was effective, otherwise he would not have been seriously injured and still alive.Before leaving France, he gave the little rabbit puppet to Roman, hoping that the puppet that blessed him could also protect his beloved Roman.