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     Seated at the dresser she glanced at he mirror and decided this lip-stick wont do. Wiping it off she re-applied a dark purple shade to match her dress. She hadnt really wanted to go to the dance tonight but Margaret had begged her to go, she didnt want Wilfred to think she was desperate but of course, Margaret being Margaret, had to see him. After their date a week previous all she could talk about was Wilfred, Wilfred, Wilfred. Jane knew she would feel like a spare part, but Margaret was her best friend, she didnt want to let her down.
     Heaving a sigh, she took one last critical look of her appearance and left for the dance.
     'Thank you so much for coming! I really appreciate it. He isnt here yet though. Have a drink' Margaret greeted Jane at the door of the large dance hall and pulled her eagerly to the bar by her arm.
    'No problem' Jane smiled at her friend and rubbed her arm better. Where does she get all this energy from? she wondered, looking at her friend who was watching the door like a hawk and touching her auburn hair to make sure it was perfect. It reminded Jane of her own hair, she hadnt really bothered to do much with it, just washing it and leaving it to dry all day, it had resulted in a long chestnut coloured wavy mop. At least the waves werent that messy, quite sleek. But She wished she had done more as she watched the women arriving with fabulous up-dos and immaculate finger waves. Suddenly very conscious of her appearance she made her excuses and hastened to the ladies toilets. The mirror threw back at her the image of a dark haired, blue eyed 23 year old nurse with porcelain skin. A smile wouldnt go amiss! she told herself. She smiled into the mirror. Yes, a vast improvement she thought. She left the toilets feeling a lot better than when she entered.
     Back at the bar, she ordered herself a white wine and looked around for Margaret who had found Wilfred and was laughing and dancing with him. She smiled, I could do with some of that she thought as she sipped her wine. She idly gazed around the room humming along to a rather upbeat happy song while couples danced and swung each other round. Something across the room was still though. Unlike the dancing couples this person, this man was standing still. She met his gaze and realizing it was fixed firmly on her she blushed and looked away. Taking a gulp of her wine and looking up again, he was gone. Anxiously looking around she saw him at the bar with her. With the band playing loudly she hadnt heard him approach.
     'Enjoying yourself?' He asked, his voice deep and velvety.
     'Ha, its just an excuse to get out the house!' Jane laughed, feeling all of a sudden quite paranoid that her hair was in place and her lipstick wasnt on her teeth and as if reading her mind he said smiling, 'You look really nice this evening.' Pausing he looked around the room 'Your friend looks like shes enjoying herself'
     'She is, she loves that man, shes just so afraid she might loose him.' Making eye contact, they stopped and stared, just for a moment, but that was all it took.
     “Im terribly sorry, my names Joe.”
     “Jane” she said quickly smiling and holding out her hand to shake. But he didn’t take it to shake.
     “Lets dance” he said pulling her to the dance floor as a slow number started.
     They danced until the last song and until everyone had left. Even to no music they danced to the early morn. Oblivious to everything, even to the old man sweeping the floor of the silver confetti, humming a tune of happiness.
     Then they kissed and everything fell into place. Oh, how she had never felt like this, never been swept off her feet by a man so handsome and gentle.
     Pulling away and looking at her, holding his arms around her, she felt so safe in his muscular arms. “Do you wanna get out of here?” He asked.
     “Yeah sure.” She said smiling. And like excited school children they ran from the deserted dance hall, hand in hand. The darkness turned to light and the sun came up. They lay on the neat bed, top to toe on their sides laughing and talking of childhood, friends, and their families. The night had gone so quickly and she suddenly realized all they had done was talk all night.
     Silence filled the room. He looked at her and his smile faded, he brought a hand up to her cheek and planted a soft lingering kiss on her lips.
     “It’s tonight you know. When we leave.” He said softly and seriously.
     “I’m not going anywhere” Jane smiled slightly, putting a hand over his. They kissed again, and again and again. Tears welled in her eyes at the harsh reality of the war and she begged them to go away. The next two hours were perfect, heavenly bliss and she didn’t want it to stop. Their bodies together was all she ever wanted, just to hold him and know he was there.
     Springing up from the bed, he dressed and left the room. Returning he had a tray with croissants, toast, jam and a pot of tea. “I have to go now, will you meet me tonight, I have something I need to tell you before I leave.”
     Her heart sunk. Was this someway of letting her down? Was she just one of many? A notch on the bedpost? Had he been disappointed this morning? No she told herself, he’s so genuine and perfect, look he’s brought me breakfast in bed, the last decent one I’ll have for a while now everything’s being rationed. She smiled at him as he put on his hat and buttoned up his top button. Kissing her he said, “I love you, you know. I’ve never felt like this, and so fast! Just meet me tonight at 8.” That was all the confirmation she needed, she couldn’t help but smile as she said, “Ditto”.
     She felt so sad as she hurried across the army base to meet him for their goodbyes. He'd said he had something important to tell her. Her heart pounded and her stomach turned as she approached him. He was smiling, thank god, she thought, relaxing a little.
     "Jane, will you be my wife when I return?"
     A smile spread across her face as she was the happiest woman alive. They hugged and parted.
     He boarded the plane with his sack on his back and blew a kiss. She smiled, and was happy, yet a tear rolled down her cheek. So sad to see him go. But she was to be married to this wonderful man on his return. That was the thought that kept her going throughout the war.
     One day a knock came on her door. A elderly man stood there with a grave face. Her own smile faded as realization took its toll.
     "I'm sorry ma'am. I have news". He gave her the letter and she read in a mixture of tears and confusion. Joe was gone.
     “But, but this must be a mistake! Please tell me it’s a mistake!” she cried, desperately thinking how it could be a mistake.
     “I’m sorry” the man turned and walked back down the steps and walked on down the street with his sack of letters.
     Feeling very dizzy and weak with the shock she wobbled backwards against the doorframe. She burst into tears realizing 'I will never see him again, not ever'. But crying didn’t help the pain, it was too much. She must have sat against the doorway in a heap for an hour and a half howling with grief at the loss of the man she loved.
     Margaret ran up the steps and engulfed her in a hug, realizing what must have happened. “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry” was all she could say, repeating it over and over to Jane as she cried.
     The time that followed was dreadful. She drank, she cried, every day and night until the war ended. England had won, and in time other men who had fought came home, other men without arms and legs but brave men, like Joe.  Wilfred came home to Margaret, injured badly having had a leg amputated, a broken arm from a bullet wound and various other injuries. But he came with a gift for Jane. Joe’s badge from his uniform, blackened by smoke and frayed at the edges, but still something that Jane would treasure forever.
     After a year, she felt brave enough herself to go and visit Joe's grave. His name seemed so odd written in stone and she broke down in tears, clutching the badge in her hands and holding it near to her heart, along with the ring he had given her.
     Time passed and one day looking at a photo of Joe she smiled for the first time. He was so handsome and brave in his army uniform and he had died for a reason, saving his country and now his country was saved. She remembered the good times, the laughter, the smiles, the proposal, and the dance. No one could take away this love that she had once had, that she still had and that she would keep for the rest of her life.

Description
     Seated at the dresser she glanced at he mirror and decided this lip-stick wont do. Wiping it off she re-applied a dark purple shade to match her dress. She hadnt really wanted to go to the dance tonight but Margaret had begged her to go, she didnt want Wilfred to think she was desperate but of course, Margaret being Margaret, had to see him. After their date a week previous all she could talk about was Wilfred, Wilfred, Wilfred. Jane knew she would feel like a spare part, but Margaret was her best friend, she didnt want to let her down.
     Heaving a sigh, she took one last critical look of her appearance and left for the dance.
     'Thank you so much for coming! I really appreciate it. He isnt here yet though. Have a drink' Margaret greeted Jane at the door of the large dance hall and pulled her eagerly to the bar by her arm.
    'No problem' Jane smiled at her friend and rubbed her arm better. Where does she get all this energy from? she wondered, looking at her friend who was watching the door like a hawk and touching her auburn hair to make sure it was perfect. It reminded Jane of her own hair, she hadnt really bothered to do much with it, just washing it and leaving it to dry all day, it had resulted in a long chestnut coloured wavy mop. At least the waves werent that messy, quite sleek. But She wished she had done more as she watched the women arriving with fabulous up-dos and immaculate finger waves. Suddenly very conscious of her appearance she made her excuses and hastened to the ladies toilets. The mirror threw back at her the image of a dark haired, blue eyed 23 year old nurse with porcelain skin. A smile wouldnt go amiss! she told herself. She smiled into the mirror. Yes, a vast improvement she thought. She left the toilets feeling a lot better than when she entered.
     Back at the bar, she ordered herself a white wine and looked around for Margaret who had found Wilfred and was laughing and dancing with him. She smiled, I could do with some of that she thought as she sipped her wine. She idly gazed around the room humming along to a rather upbeat happy song while couples danced and swung each other round. Something across the room was still though. Unlike the dancing couples this person, this man was standing still. She met his gaze and realizing it was fixed firmly on her she blushed and looked away. Taking a gulp of her wine and looking up again, he was gone. Anxiously looking around she saw him at the bar with her. With the band playing loudly she hadnt heard him approach.
     'Enjoying yourself?' He asked, his voice deep and velvety.
     'Ha, its just an excuse to get out the house!' Jane laughed, feeling all of a sudden quite paranoid that her hair was in place and her lipstick wasnt on her teeth and as if reading her mind he said smiling, 'You look really nice this evening.' Pausing he looked around the room 'Your friend looks like shes enjoying herself'
     'She is, she loves that man, shes just so afraid she might loose him.' Making eye contact, they stopped and stared, just for a moment, but that was all it took.
     “Im terribly sorry, my names Joe.”
     “Jane” she said quickly smiling and holding out her hand to shake. But he didn’t take it to shake.
     “Lets dance” he said pulling her to the dance floor as a slow number started.
     They danced until the last song and until everyone had left. Even to no music they danced to the early morn. Oblivious to everything, even to the old man sweeping the floor of the silver confetti, humming a tune of happiness.
     Then they kissed and everything fell into place. Oh, how she had never felt like this, never been swept off her feet by a man so handsome and gentle.
     Pulling away and looking at her, holding his arms around her, she felt so safe in his muscular arms. “Do you wanna get out of here?” He asked.
     “Yeah sure.” She said smiling. And like excited school children they ran from the deserted dance hall, hand in hand. The darkness turned to light and the sun came up. They lay on the neat bed, top to toe on their sides laughing and talking of childhood, friends, and their families. The night had gone so quickly and she suddenly realized all they had done was talk all night.
     Silence filled the room. He looked at her and his smile faded, he brought a hand up to her cheek and planted a soft lingering kiss on her lips.
     “It’s tonight you know. When we leave.” He said softly and seriously.
     “I’m not going anywhere” Jane smiled slightly, putting a hand over his. They kissed again, and again and again. Tears welled in her eyes at the harsh reality of the war and she begged them to go away. The next two hours were perfect, heavenly bliss and she didn’t want it to stop. Their bodies together was all she ever wanted, just to hold him and know he was there.
     Springing up from the bed, he dressed and left the room. Returning he had a tray with croissants, toast, jam and a pot of tea. “I have to go now, will you meet me tonight, I have something I need to tell you before I leave.”
     Her heart sunk. Was this someway of letting her down? Was she just one of many? A notch on the bedpost? Had he been disappointed this morning? No she told herself, he’s so genuine and perfect, look he’s brought me breakfast in bed, the last decent one I’ll have for a while now everything’s being rationed. She smiled at him as he put on his hat and buttoned up his top button. Kissing her he said, “I love you, you know. I’ve never felt like this, and so fast! Just meet me tonight at 8.” That was all the confirmation she needed, she couldn’t help but smile as she said, “Ditto”.
     She felt so sad as she hurried across the army base to meet him for their goodbyes. He'd said he had something important to tell her. Her heart pounded and her stomach turned as she approached him. He was smiling, thank god, she thought, relaxing a little.
     "Jane, will you be my wife when I return?"
     A smile spread across her face as she was the happiest woman alive. They hugged and parted.
     He boarded the plane with his sack on his back and blew a kiss. She smiled, and was happy, yet a tear rolled down her cheek. So sad to see him go. But she was to be married to this wonderful man on his return. That was the thought that kept her going throughout the war.
     One day a knock came on her door. A elderly man stood there with a grave face. Her own smile faded as realization took its toll.
     "I'm sorry ma'am. I have news". He gave her the letter and she read in a mixture of tears and confusion. Joe was gone.
     “But, but this must be a mistake! Please tell me it’s a mistake!” she cried, desperately thinking how it could be a mistake.
     “I’m sorry” the man turned and walked back down the steps and walked on down the street with his sack of letters.
     Feeling very dizzy and weak with the shock she wobbled backwards against the doorframe. She burst into tears realizing 'I will never see him again, not ever'. But crying didn’t help the pain, it was too much. She must have sat against the doorway in a heap for an hour and a half howling with grief at the loss of the man she loved.
     Margaret ran up the steps and engulfed her in a hug, realizing what must have happened. “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry” was all she could say, repeating it over and over to Jane as she cried.
     The time that followed was dreadful. She drank, she cried, every day and night until the war ended. England had won, and in time other men who had fought came home, other men without arms and legs but brave men, like Joe.  Wilfred came home to Margaret, injured badly having had a leg amputated, a broken arm from a bullet wound and various other injuries. But he came with a gift for Jane. Joe’s badge from his uniform, blackened by smoke and frayed at the edges, but still something that Jane would treasure forever.
     After a year, she felt brave enough herself to go and visit Joe's grave. His name seemed so odd written in stone and she broke down in tears, clutching the badge in her hands and holding it near to her heart, along with the ring he had given her.
     Time passed and one day looking at a photo of Joe she smiled for the first time. He was so handsome and brave in his army uniform and he had died for a reason, saving his country and now his country was saved. She remembered the good times, the laughter, the smiles, the proposal, and the dance. No one could take away this love that she had once had, that she still had and that she would keep for the rest of her life.