The Fallen Snow

                                              The Fallen Snow



    I will never forget the day we first met the girl of our dreams. By we, I mean, my best and closest friend, my army buddy, both fell in love with her the moment we met her. Fortunately, we had promised each other to never interfere or in any way, try to steal another's girl.  It was a code of honor we both swore to.  Close friends since high school and now in the army, we were almost like brothers.

    It was a cold winter day in Munich, on our leave, just enjoying time away from military life.  As we were about to get off the train, we literally bumped into a young woman, almost knocking her down.  We both stammered to apologize while looking at her in awe.  To say she was stunning would be too obvious or even over the top.  She was beautiful, yet something about her attraction was deeper.

    She accepted our apology and in perfect English, said, "It's my fault. I should be more careful. These trains stop too quick." 

    Both of us almost stumbled over each other as we got off the train, trying to keep up with her. Smiling at us, she said, "Are you looking for a taxi?  They may be difficult to find in this weather." 

    John, in his smooth Boston accent, he said, "If you don't mind, maybe we can share a taxi."  The moment he said that, the girl responded, "Yes, I don't mind at all. My name is Sonia."

    As we introduced ourselves, Sonia hailed a taxi nearby.

    From that moment on, we both had thoughts of her only. Dressed in a long winter coat, her blond hair streaming down her shoulders, she was a picture of sheer beauty, with her mild complexion and deep-set azure blue eyes. John slyly got into the back of the cab with her, leaving me to sit in front with the driver. Straining to keep her in my sight, I could see that John had the same thoughts as I.  She was not only charming but gracious and not hesitant to express her thoughts or feelings.  We had just met yet she seemed eager to be friends, but only in a way one would expect, being that we just met.  Her eyes were penetrating in a way that one could see her inner thoughts.  We were careful to not come on too strong, especially since we were military. Lucky for us, she was going in the same direction and even better, the driver had to drive slow in the heavy snow. We chatted with her, talking about German life and all the great beers. Her English was not only perfect but there was something about her entire manner.  It was like she was from an upper class family.  I once met a girl at a party in high school like this. She had impeccable manners, yet she had a way of making one feel you were not in her class. Sonia wasn't quite that way but she was definitely from money. Her clothes appeared to be the very best-- her make-up was just the right amount without overdoing it. In spite of her apparent background, she was warm-hearted and interested in what we said.  Actually, I was taken aback that she made such an impression on me.

    Stopping at our hostel, John said, "It's been a pleasure to meet you. I hope we can meet again sometime."  In that fleeting moment, I had say something or we might never see her again.

    About to get out of the taxi, I said, "I know we just met but could we take you out for dinner sometime?"

    With a smile that would make a man feel weak, she said, "I'd like that. Call me at the Bavarian Inn.  Everybody knows me there."

    For a moment, we were both so enamored with her, we didn't say a thing. Then, walking through the snow to the hostel,  I said, "Wow, what a beauty."

    Quiet for a moment, John said, "Yeah, she's like an angel from Heaven."

    Now, both smitten by her, we decided: may the best man win.  Of course, just meeting her, we realized it was just love at first sight, but we knew it had to be more then that.  We called her hotel and as she had said, the desk clerk knew her and we made a date for dinner. We dressed our best, ready to have our first date with her.

    The dinner was a good, traditional German meal, saurbraten with red cabbage and dumplings. doused with a dark Bavarian beer.  It was a dinner to keep one warm in the bitter weather.  Actually, we hardly noticed the meal as we were both trying to keep her attention.  She was good enough to share us and careful to not show favorites, yet, I soon had a feeling she was partial to John.  Her eyes would follow his every word it seemed, and John was his usual smooth operator.  At first, my first reaction was to be jealous, even to the point of being obvious, but I had to give my best friend his chance.  I could sense she was aware of my feelings but she was good at keeping her feelings to herself.  I admired her in being modest, even with all our attentions.

    As the evening was about to end, she stood up saying, "I've had a wonderful evening we both of you. Maybe we can get together again."

    That night in our room, I said, "John, you lucky SOB. I think she likes you best."

    "No" he said,  "she likes both of us."

    I could tell he was lying.  She had his attention most of the evening so I said, "She had that look in her eyes, and you know it."

    With a faraway look in his eyes, John said, "Maybe, but remember our promise to each other."

    Now, looking back on it, our dates with her were like a blur. She seemed to accept the two of us wooing her.  I tried my best to not interfere but she was difficult to keep off your mind. Charming and so exquisitely beautiful, she was a girl men dreamed of. She had a way of making you feel like you were the only person in her life. Well educated and witty, she was a joy to not only listen to but to look at.  Her eyes were seemed to penetrate your inner thoughts without making you feel intimidated.  Soon I realized John and Sonia were in love.

    I envied him yet, it made me feel good that John had found his love.  John was raised without a mother and his life with his father had difficulties. His father wasn't around much and even worse, he was domineering. Once, John told me he tried to kill himself but he couldn't go through with it. I knew he had mood swings but hearing that was a shock.

    Playfully hitting him on the shoulder, I said,  "I know that. Be good to her. She deserves a man like you." Saying that gave me a pain in my heart.  Sonia was one of those once in a lifetime women anyone could fall for.

    With time passing, I would go with them but leave them while they said goodbye at the door.  It was almost painful knowing they were kissing yet I had to accept it. They were in love. John changed after that. He was almost religious in the way he worshiped her.. He did nothing but talk about her in dream-like way.  She was perfect in every way.  He didn't talk of marriage yet he said she was the girl of his dreams. At times I would tell him, "Be careful. Don't get too carried away. You're still in the army."

    Sometimes, wistfully looking out the window, he would say, "She is the most perfect girl I've ever met."

    It almost gave me a chill that someone could love a woman that much.

    For the next few weeks, the winter becoming bitter, we traveled to Munich every chance we had, to meet with Sonia. It was getting serious with them.

    They would leave me at the bar while going to her room. John was my best friend; It took much effort to keep from thinking what they were doing.  We often sat together in the taxi and the very warmth of her, next to me, pained me. I had to force myself to think of other things when close to her.  Sonia was becoming aware of my thoughts for her, carefully soothing me as if she knew my feelings.

    One night, after she left, we sat in our hotel and John said, "She said she will be gone for a few weeks."

    Concerned, I said, "What does she mean, a few weeks?"

    With a worried look on his face, John said, "I don't know. It worries me. She wouldn't say why she is going."

    "Don't worry John, she'll be back."

    The next few weeks, John was besides himself.  Waiting for her call, he paced the room saying, "Why doesn't she call?"

    Each day seemed to take a toll on him.  Waiting by the phone, he had the look of a lost person.  Trying to cheer him up, I said, "Let's go out and get drunk. Forget her for awhile."

    With a shake of his head, he said, "I can't.  She means too much to me."

    Now almost two months since she had left, John was a wreck. He had no way to call her. He just had to wait for her call. His health was deteriorating to the point of being serious. He wouldn't eat except enough to keep alive. He wouldn't even go drinking with me. One day, as I saw him sitting at the window, I said, "Look. She is just a woman. Maybe it was just a fling."

    Looking at me intensely, he said, "She is not just a woman. She is an angel from Heaven." 

    The intensity of his words worried me.

    I was so worried Sonia might leave him, I asked one of her friends why Sonia wouldn't call.  He told me confidentially that she came from an influential family and her father was worried who she married.  Maybe Sonia was getting permission from her father. 

    I was called away to help inspect a new shipment of tanks so I had to leave John for a week.  I worried about what he was doing and if his health was okay.  Finally finishing my inspection I returned late that evening. John was nowhere to be found. I asked others where he was but no one seemed to know. The next morning, I went to the sergeant asking about John.  He said he had left two days ago.  About to go and look for him, the sergeant said,  "Oh, by the way. You have a phone message from someone."

    On a piece of paper, a message said, "This is Sonia. Sorry I haven't called so long. Had some important things to do. Will be in Munich on the seven o'clock train." 

    While I didn't know it at the time, Sonia's father made her break off their affair for a while to make sure she was serious about Jon.  Her father didn't approve of their possible marriage, but knowing his daughter was headstrong, he would allow it if she was certain of his love.

    Excited at the good news, I took the first train to Munich eager to tell John of the news.  In the two hour ride, it worried me that John had left without telling me. Arriving at the station, Sonia was waiting for me, saying, "Where is John?"

    I told her he was probably at the Inn, asking her, "He's been worried about you." 

    "I know" she said, "I had some important family matters to take care of."

    It was bitterly cold with a heavy snowfall. I told Sonia,  "Wait here in the lobby. I'll look for him."

    Not anywhere to be seen, I asked the desk clerk, "Have you seen John?"

    "Yes" she said, "he went out for a walk in the park, maybe two hours ago. I told him to be careful. It's terribly cold."

    Now, more worried then ever, knowing John had suicidal tendencies, I ran out to look for him.  The snow was so deep I could hardly make my way to the park even though it was but a block away. In the few minutes that I was looking for him, my face was tingling with cold. Trudging through the drifts, I could see a park bench with someone sitting there.  It had to be John.  Approaching the bench, all I could see was a round lump, completely covered in snow.  Cautiously, I shook him, realizing it was John, with his usual red tousled cap.  With no response, I shook him harder, yelling, "John, it's me, Darrel."  Pulling his cap back, I was horrified to see his face, almost blue with cold.  "My God!" I thought, is he dead?  Rubbing my bare hand across his face, I could barely feel some warmth.  I said, "John, wake up, I have some good news."

    With his face covered with fallen snow, his eyelids flickering, I yelled louder, "John, you fool. Wake up."

    To my great relief, he mumbled, "What?"

    He was stiff as a board as I tried to stand him up. I was afraid he might have serious frostbite.

    Gently rubbing his face, I said,  "Sonia is here. She wants to see you."

    For a moment, his eyes opening, John said, "Where? Where is she?"

    Leading him back to the Inn, I said, "You look terrible. Let's get you warmed up. Sonia is waiting for you."  Shaking with cold, John said, "Don't tell her I was sitting out there."

    As we came into the Inn, Sonia gasped, "My God John, you look terrible!" 

    We sat down together and with Sonia hugging John, I said, "He just got lost out there, he'll be okay."

    It was heart-warming to see them together again.  Sonia was comforting him as she held him in her arms, whispering kind words.

    Leaving them alone, standing in the fallen snow, I felt good and at peace with myself, knowing they were together.



    The End