The war had just ended in Lindow, and as the last wisps of winter's chill melted into thin air, the hilly village bubbled with excitement. It was the first day of spring, and it spelled hope for the villagers. While the air came alive with the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers, the rays from the warm sunshine reflected brightly on various window frames, casting a golden glow over the pleasantly old-fashioned streets.
Silva, a red-headed, hazel-eyed, and curious six-year-old, couldn't wait to explore the outdoors. Peeping through her window, she squeaked in excitement, watching people go about their day and children running around playfully. She couldn't bear to miss out on the fun, so she ran out of the room to look for her mother, whom she hadn't seen all morning.
Silva had spent the long winter months confined inside, in the warmth and safety of her home, dreaming of the day she could play again in the park and ride her bike through the village. As she ran through the hallway, screaming for her mother, she soon heard echoes of her favorite hymn coming from the basement.
For the first time in Silva's life, she didn't want to know what her mother was doing there; she was so focused on going out to play that she ran to her mother. "Mommy, Mommy! Can we go on a surprise adventure today?" Silva requested, tugging on her mother's hand and looking deep into her eyes for a favorable answer.
The war was finally over, which meant that both mother and child could freely explore. Smiling and nodding for approval, her mother, Sonia, responded cheerfully, while having other ideas up her sleeves. "That sounds like a wonderful idea, sweetie. But you have to promise me one thing."
"What's that?" Silva asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"You have to keep your eyes closed until I say 'surprise!'" Sonia replied, a mischievous glint in her eye.
Silva squealed with delight and clapped her hands over her eyes. She ran back to their room, urging her mother to come and freshen her up. It was noon, and they were ready to explore the town after a long while. Sonia led Silva through the streets on foot, wanting to slowly sip in the moment, enjoying the warm sunshine and sweet scents of spring that filled the air.
As they walked, Silva couldn't help but ask, "Are we there yet, Mommy?"
"Not yet, sweetie," Sonia replied. "But we're getting close." She giggled, holding onto the hands of a blindfolded Silva.
Both mother and child soon arrived at a beautiful park filled with blooming flowers and towering trees. "Okay, Silva! Mommy is going to take off the blindfold now, but keep your eyes shut" Sonia hinted. The blindfold was off, and like Sonia could read Silva's mind, she yelled, "No peeking!" Silva quickly covered her eyes again with both hands, waiting patiently for the surprise her mom had in store.
Rotating her to face the East wing of the park, Sonia gently whispered in her ear, "Surprise!" As Silva's vision developed gradually, she exclaimed. Her eyes flew open, and she gasped in wonder. Before her lay a stunning spring landscape, full of vibrant colors and sweet scents.
"Wow!" Silva breathed. "This is the most beautiful surprise ever, Mommy!" Sonia smiled and hugged her daughter tightly. "I'm so glad you like it, sweetie. But there's more."
"Really?" An already agitated Silva yelled excitedly, and as she wondered what else her mommy had in store for her, she saw a man in a military uniform walk up to them. Silva couldn't really tell what was going on, but from the man's facial expression, she knew all was not well. Like she had rightly guessed, her mother, upon opening and glancing through a note handed to her by the miltary man, collapsed on her knees and wailed uncontrollably.
A helpless Silva just stood and watched the man in uniform console her mother, not knowing what to do next. It was a day that started so beautifully; how did it all become so ugly? She wondered in her little mind. They couldn't even explore the park, and all the wonders of the spring surprise had been ruined.
As briefly as they came, the military man took them back home, and while they rode with him, Sonia just sobbed quietly with Silva coiled in her arms. They got to their home, and for the first time since the war, four years ago, Sonia felt so alone. Memories of the past came flashing in her eyes as she stood in front of her husband's picture.
Watching her mother, the only thing Silva could hear was, "You promised to come back alive. You promised to be there today" Nothing made sense, but Silva knew something horrible had happened to her father.
Like her mother, Silva also remembered a few things from the night her father left. Her memory of that night wasn't strong, but she could picture how the military came in uniform, like the man in the park. She could picture her father lifting her up and promising to be back before her next birthday. Unfortunately, the war took longer than expected, and at some point, they stopped hearing from her father - no letters and no recorded video cassettes that he usually mailed.
For the first time in Silva's life, she was exposed to pain. Her eyes widened in disbelief as her face scrunched up in distress, and a whimper escaped her lips. She looked up at her devastated mother with tears in their eyes, seeking comfort. As the pain registered, her whimper grew into a wail. She reached out for solace in her mother's touch, struggling to process this new sensation. Her tiny body trembled, and her eyes overflowed with tears as she cried out in distress, prompting her mother to lift her up and hug her ever so tightly.
"This is not the surprise I wanted mama
The demise of Stanley was a huge blow to both mother and child. For the past four years, Sonia had carried on with hopes that her husband would someday return. Having that hope dashed was an unexpected blow to her spirit, and as time progressed into months, she knew she was no longer in her right mind to give Silva the love she needed. So she resolved to take Silva to her parents while she got all the help she needed in preparation for Stanley's burial.
As they prepared for their trip, Silva was already in the car while Sonia struggled with the door. As she made one final attempt to close it, she heard Silva come out of the car screaming "Daddy!" Her heart skipped a beat, causing her to lose her grip on everything she held in her hands. Turning in the direction of Silva's scream, she froze, like she had just seen a ghost. There, rolled her husband Stanley, in a wheelchair, with a hung arm.
Approaching her husband, an already excited Silva sat on her father's lap, neither of them minding the pains her father must have been going through. The only word that could come out of Sonia was, "How?"
"I promised you that I'd come back alive, didn't I?" A response from Stanley that didn't sit well with Sonia. She wanted to know what had actually happened. She had so many questions, but words failed her. To quench her curiosity, Stanley reached out for her hand with his good arm, pulled her closer, and responded, "I am here today because of our daughter and you. I was shot, and while I was recovering, my wound got infected. I didn't want to worry you, plus I was sure I could come home as informed. Unfortunately, my health deteriorated, and what felt like sleep was me being pronounced clinically dead.
But, like the saying goes, a soldier never truly dies. I had a brief relapse, and just when my body was about to be prepared for burial, I regained consciousness but slipped back into a coma again. I have been in a coma for the past months. You weren't informed because Jack didn't want to get your hopes up after the last time he informed you about my demise."
After Stanley's narration of all that had happened, it was as if time stood still, and silence engulfed them but not for long as an agitated Silva screamed, "it's a miracle!" Prompting her mother Sonia to bend over and give her her father hug.
"Indeed mommy, this is the best Surprise ever". Silva added and they all laughed.
