Forever

Part 3

GEORGIA, 1861

            John excitedly ran home from his job in Atlanta. All around the city there were posters asking for volunteers for the war against the Yankees, and he had proudly enlisted in the Confederate army. He couldn't wait to tell his father.

            Bursting through the door, he raced to his father's study, skidding to a stop and knocking politely. Once allowed entrance, he went in, struggling to contain the grin on his face. "Father, I have excellent news!"

            Mr. Smith didn't look at his son; he simply continued to read the local newspaper, every headline advertising the war. "What's that, son? You haven't gone and signed up for this damned war, have you?"

            John froze and his excitement dissolved instantly. His father wasn't pleased. He wouldn't be proud. "No, Father, it's not that."

            "Well, what is it, then?" Mr. Smith grumbled.

            "I, um...," John stammered, searching for something to say. "Mr. Pickney, at the market, said I could get a raise next month!"

            "That's great, son. Now leave me to my work, if you will. And have old Bessie bring me some coffee."

            John nodded and shuffled out of the room, staring at the ground. What would he tell his father now? He sighed. He needed someone to talk to, and he knew exactly where to go. After doing what his father had requested, John ran outside to the stables and saddled up Chestnut, then headed down the road to Alaska. To Clara.

            Clara's maid, Franny, answered the door and smiled at the sight of John. "Good to see you, boy," she said. "My, have you turned out nice." Franny laughed. "Little Clara did well in choosing you!"

            John chuckled, feeling his face blush. He and Clara weren't a couple, but they did almost everything together, so people naturally assumed they were. Neither of them ever denied it, but on the other hand, neither had ever confirmed it.

            "Come on in, Mr. Smith," Franny said. "You'll find miss Clara in the library."

            John thanked Franny, then went to find Clara. It'd been a while since he'd been to Alaska; Clara often went to Custard Mill when they played as children. He rarely came to her house.

            Finding the library, John entered and found Clara curled up in a chair with a rather large book. He sat in the chair opposite her. "Hello, Clara."

            She glanced up at him and a huge grin spread across her face. "John!" Clara stood up and hugged him tightly. "It's so good to see you!"

            John smiled and spun her around in his arms, then set her back on her feet. They resumed their seats in the chairs. "Listen, Clara, there's something I need to tell you."

            Clara nodded slowly, terrified at what he might say. "What is it?"

            John took a deep breath. "I joined the Confederate army, Clara. I'm going to fight in the war against the North."

            Clara's jaw dropped. John, her John? Her sweet, kind John was going to a war? No, it wasn't possible. It couldn't be true. "John...why?"

            He shook his head and stared at the ground. "Everyone in Atlanta was ecstatic about it. Signin' up faster than you could think about what you're in for. I dunno what I was thinking. Caught in the moment, I guess. The truth is, I was still real excited till I went to tell my dad. He wants no part of the war. Says it ain't necessary."

            Clara stared at her hands in her lap, which were clutching a handkerchief John had given her years ago for her birthday. She felt a tear roll down her face. "Do you have to go?" She asked, her voice breaking.

            John nodded sadly, reaching out for her hand and squeezing it tightly when she slipped hers into it.  "Before I go, I have something to show you. Come on over to Custard Mill."

            They walked down the dirt road together, their hands still clasped tightly together. Neither of them spoke a word.

            John led them up the drive and around the back of the house. Near the pond where they had played that very first day stood a small tree. John stood under it and motioned for Clara to join him.

            "What's this?" Clara asked, looking at the small, delicate leaves.

            "I planted this tree the day we met," John said. "Since then I've come out here every single day and checked on it to make sure it was perfect. Now I'm passing that duty onto you, Clara. This tree represents our friendship. Please, don't let it wither."

            Clara was crying. She couldn't help it. John was leaving in a few days to go off to the war, and she knew there was a chance he would not return. The thought made her cry harder. She looked up at John with tears in her eyes and threw her arms around him, crying into his shoulder. After a minute she pulled away and looked up at him, keeping her hands on his shoulders. "When do you leave?"

            John gently stroked her cheek. "Tomorrow morning."

            Clara let out another sob. "That soon? Oh, John please don't go. Please, you can't go. You can't leave me."

            John felt a tear roll down his face. "I'm sorry, Clara. I have to. No turning back now."

            "Promise me you'll come back safely, please, just promise me that," Clara cried.

            John simply looked at her sadly. He knew there was a greater chance of him being killed in battle than there was of him returning. He wasn't going to lie to her. "I'm sorry, Clara."

            Clara closed her eyes and hugged him again, holding onto him as tight as she could. She felt John wrap his arms around her. "My Clara," he whispered. "You take care of yourself while I'm gone."

            Clara nodded, reluctantly ending the embrace. "I'll be there, at the station tomorrow. To see you off. I promise I'll be there."

            John smiled sadly. "Thank you."

∞

            Clara awoke before dawn the next day, hurrying to get dressed so she wouldn't miss John's departure. She walked to Custard Mill to take her horse, then rode the rest of the way to Atlanta. She left the horse tied to a tree at the edge of the town and ran the few blocks to the train station.

            There were hundreds of people, soldiers and families alike, crowded around the train. Clara searched frantically for John. Just as she began to worry that she wouldn't find him, she spotted him as he was almost to the door to board the train. Clara pushed through the sea of people and reached him just as he was stepping on board.

            "Clara!"

            "John!" She jumped into his arms and hugged him tightly, tears running down her face.

            "Clara, my Clara," John whispered. "Thank you for coming. I don't have long. The train leaves in five minutes."

            Clara forced herself to calm down. She took a deep breath and looked up at John. "Before you go, there's something I need to do."

            John smiled. "Me too."

            And then he kissed her.