A Letter

The man in the shabby green shirt was hiding behind a jute tree. His sweat-soaked face appeared every now and then. Observing some of the enemy troops that passed not far from where he stood.

Matias grasped the leaves he had recently picked from the riverbank. After the situation around him was safe, then he resumed his steps towards the tent belonging to the national defense soldiers.

With his swift steps, he hurriedly entered the green tent. He approached a soldier sitting beside a stretcher.

"Here are the leaves, sir!"

The stern-faced man accepted what Matias handed him.

"That's right! This is the leaf I'm talking about!"

"Hold your pain for a while, Daniel! I've found the leaf.", he said to the man whimpering on his horn.

The soldier's two hands went to work tearing the leaves, he also squeezed the leaves to release the juice. He again mixed the cut leaves with the juice. Then returned to the two men waiting there.

"You will scream when I place this leaf on your wound. Please bear with it if you want to get better soon."

Daniel could only nod, the man would immediately cover the wound on his left arm with the leaves he had mixed earlier. Matias faithfully accompanied his friend.

And true, Daniel began to scream when little by little the leaf concoction seeped into the wound. He got the arrow wound while chasing the enemy troops who were about to attack the huts in the interior.

"Close your eyes Daniel! Try to sleep! A short rest will affect the healing of your wound."

"Hmm! Thank you sir.", he said hoarsely.

"I'll be back on guard. Hurry up and recover so we can work together again!", said Matias before leaving the tent.

"Mr. Matias!", the head soldier called out to him.

"Yes sir!", Matias hurried. Running a little towards the man.

"It seems that things are getting better. You also know that many enemy troops have fallen. With good cooperation, the soldiers and defense forces have repelled the remaining enemy troops. Although not all of them, at least the number of enemy troops hiding in the interior can still be overcome by our soldiers. So... go home! Return to the city with the rest of the defense forces tonight."

"You... Are you really a master?"

"Yes! We really appreciate your help and cooperation during these four years. It is time for you to return."

Two hours later, the rest of the defense forces had gathered, they were so surprised and welcomed when Matias announced that tonight they would be sent back to the city. Daniel, who had not long woken up from his sleep, immediately laughed happily when he heard it. He forgot the pain of the wound on his left arm.

They were getting impatient waiting for nightfall.

The rest of the time they had was spent tidying up all the equipment and things that belonged to each of them.

"How's your wound, Daniel?"

"Huh! It doesn't even feel like I was shot by an arrow, after hearing the chief warrior's decision."

"I'm not kidding, Daniel! Has the leaf done its job in treating your wound?", he asked as he looked down at the wound.

"Yes! This leaf potion is really working, Matias! After waking up earlier, my arm felt lighter to move."

"We should pick these leaves to take home."

"What did you say, to treat me there? I can see a doctor for....."

"Not to treat you! But, to treat the wound in my girl's heart that I left behind for too long."

"What? Are you crazy Matias?"

"Yes! With this leaf, her heart wound will dry up quickly."

"Hahaha. Indeed, we should go home soon, so that you... don't go crazy."

"Don't you miss my sister?"

"Huh? I don't think I need to answer that stupid question!"

***

Martha had just arrived at her house this evening. A male servant approached her as she stepped into her room.

"Miss Martha! Wait, Miss."

Martha turned around and stopped.

"There's a letter for you.", as he thrust a white rectangular envelope into Martha's hand.

Martha accepted it with a faint smile and skimmed the sender's name. "Thank you Rob."

The waiter bowed respectfully, then left.

Carrying the letter, Martha continued her walk to her room. She then sat on her dressing table chair and carefully opened the envelope's head, using a thin knife.

"Hello Martha! Thank you for your letter the other day. I was quite surprised to find out that it was you who wrote me back. I apologize for only being able to reply to your letter now. It may even reach you a month after I wrote this reply. I really regret how slow the mail delivery system between countries is nowadays.

Thank you for your congratulations, Martha! I also didn't expect my painting to win an award.

I really hope Matias and Daniel come back soon, in good condition. If I had been there at the time, I would have... fought alongside them.

Don't be sad my sister, Martha! Your Daniel will come back!

Three months ago, I married a native girl. But right now, there's no sign that we'll be having children soon.

And you know what? This country is so beautiful, even though I miss my country so much, but... I don't know when I'll be back there. But for sure, one day I'll take my wife and son to visit the land of my birth.

Take care of yourself, Matha! If you had been here when I got married that time, I would have asked you to arrange many flowers for my bride."

Greetings your friend,

Rodrigues.

Martha had tears in her eyes after closing and folding the letter. She was deeply moved, realizing that time and distance can change everything.

And if there had never been any chaos at the border, she would have been married to Daniel by now.

The first time Rodrigues sent word, he wrote to Matias. However, since Matias was not at home, their servant passed the letter into Martha's hands.

Upon learning who the sender was, Martha decided to open and read it. Because she didn't know when her brother would return. After reading it, Martha felt bad about not replying to the letter. She thought that in the distance, Rodrigues must be waiting for a reply to her letter from Matias.

So Martha decided to write a letter back to Rodrigues. And the letter that she had recently received was a reply to Martha's previous letter.

Martha wiped her tears with the back of her hand, then got up from her chair. Now she had to clean herself up, after being at the flower stall for most of the day. She also had to get ready for dinner tonight, with Count Antonio and Countess Victoria.