Love You Till The End (Robert Zussman x Reader)

31 - Robert Zussman

June 12, 1944
An American General Hospital
The English Countryside

I was finally able to get my wound properly tended to. A doc had examined my wound for any sign of infection and he hadn't found any which was good. He cleaned it with rubbing alcohol and stitched it up some more which sure as hell wasn't fun to sit through. When I had been patched up on D-Day, I was too damn delirious to even feel myself getting poked by the stitchin' needle.

It's been six long days since the Normandy invasion, and although I was safe from combat, it felt wrong to be away from my squad. I'm worried that when I join them again, which I'm gonna try and make sure of, some of them might not be alive. I don't want to think about that, but who knows what kind of shit they'll face in the next couple weeks.

I was especially worried about Y/N. I didn't really expect much out of joining the Army but meeting her had changed that. Back at basic, I knew that she and I were possibly headed for some deep shit whether in the Pacific or in Europe, but I couldn't help but fall for her. She didn't try to get my attention like women in my past had tried. She didn't try to pretend to be someone else. She simply stayed true to herself and it felt so right talking to her about anythin' that I couldn't help but be drawn to her.

As a youngster, I guess I never really cared to fall in love. I was busy bein' selfish and focusin' too much on pleasure. Now, at the age of 21, I look at Y/N and my focus isn't on that one thing that many men just want. I look at her and I can't help but want to keep learning new things about her. I find her interestin' and I love listenin' to the stories she has to tell.

Whether she needs a shoulder to cry on or a good laugh, I don't mind bein' that person to provide those things for her because I care about her. On D-day, I wasn't just worried about my own life, but hers too. I feared that each time I would look back to find her, she wouldn't be there. She was always there, of course, because she was smart and careful about her actions even though the machine-gun fire made it almost impossible to be fricken careful.

When I think about it, if we're ever able to return to the states together, she wouldn't need me. She wouldn't need to depend on anyone because she's capable of handlin' her business on her own. She's had her share of terrible people come into her life and hurt her, yet she doesn't let that stop her. She's tough in my eyes and I love that about her.

I snapped out of my thoughts and stared at my bloodstained coat lying upon my bed. The letter Y/N had given me which I still hadn't read was peeking out of one of the pockets. I was worried I was going to read something I didn't want to hear. She hadn't seemed so negative towards this letter when she gave it to me though which made me feel better. I decided to finally read it since it was only going to continue to bother me.

"Dear Robert,

I'm hoping that this letter isn't the last time you'll hear from me because anything can happen while you're gone. I worry that you won't return to our platoon after you heal which is why I'm writing this. There's something I need you to know, something I've been meaning to tell you for a while.

The war makes this difficult, but the truth is that I've grown feelings for you. When I joined the Army, I didn't care about love nor did I join hoping to meet somebody like you. For fuck' s sake, I signed my life away! But meeting you felt important. We went from being strangers at a train station and have now become such great friends which I'm really thankful for.

Robert, we've only known each other for a short amount of time, but I feel like I have a lot to thank you for. Not only did you make basic a lot better for me, but you actually listened to me when I needed somebody to talk to. You made my terrible days better. You make me feel like I don't have to be afraid to love somebody again.

I'm not sure when I'll hear from you again, but hopefully, I can hear how you feel someday whether it's during the war or after. I don't know what's going to happen in the next few weeks when we return to pushing back the Krauts, but I will do my best to make sure I'm still here if you come back. If you don't come back, well I expect to see you again someday. Perhaps in Paris when we take it back from the Krauts. Stay safe, Robert ♥

- Y/N

P.S. If we get back to the states, I still expect that tour around Chicago from you."

After readin' what she had to say, I wanted nothin' more than to be with her so I could tell her how I feel. It felt good to know that she had feelings for me. As I laid in my bed with my aching wound, I felt happier than ever and couldn't help but read her letter over and over, soakin' in each word she had written to me.