Love Across War Borders By Keylin Mora

Taking away any hope from Stephan’s heart, the heartbreaking feeling of realizing that
everything was over suddenly appeared. That feeling of being in a maze with no exits, a place of
profound emptiness where the colors are muted and the chaos never ends. A godforsaken land
where the armed conflict between France and Germany left a devastating trace. Stretching out as
far as the eye can see, Stephan was there lying on the muddy ground while almost dying.
Although the troops on both sides left the isolated trench, he was still recapitulating every heavy
fighting scene in his mind. Unluckily, he had been shot two times; he had a severe gunshot
wound below his ribs on the left side and a bullet that completely penetrated his leg. As a result
of the freezing temperatures, his health status was deteriorating, causing him become delirious.
In the twinkling of an eye, Stephan went from being an ordinary 19 years old boy who was
preparing to be a lawyer to being a moribund soldier whose soul was lost. How unluckily that
man could be that one day he was planning his future, and the other day he was called to serve
the nation without having another possibility thanks to the political interests. Taking into
account, those leaders would never put their lives in danger.
As the heaven had heard him, Stephan was able to take a brief breath which helped him to go
ahead looking for a safer place to rest in that rainy night. However, he could not manage to walk
even three meters, and he finally fainted. From Stephan’s perspective, it was the end; there was
no way back anymore. The wretched soldier was living the worst time of his entire life. He
seemed to be one more decorative element of that bloody battlefield. Without any sing of life, he
was left to bleed.
After an uncertain time, Stephan’s eyes opened gently as a newborn baby does. A warm breeze
hugged him which suddenly mitigated all his life angst. He looked around to find out what had
happened. He noticed that he was in a horse stable. His disgusting injuries were thankfully
healed and disinfected, and then he was covered with a soft cotton quit which successfully
regulated his body heat. Thanks to the smart distribution of hay around the stable, it isolated the
moderately hot temperature; in that way, avoiding the winter devastation to fill the place. When
he looked at the window, he noticed a young girl standing outside. It was time to face the person
who had brought him to that place. Would that girl be a French enemy or a German Angel? He
hurried up to get out of the stable, but he could not leave it because the wooden door was locked
from the outside. Obviously, he was puzzled without knowing what was waiting for him. All of a
sudden, the door was opened. One of the most gorgeous girls in the world was standing in front
of him. She had an unique beauty. Her blonde hair was as white as the Swiss snow, and she had
two deep blue oceans as eyes.
“Please, do not panic! I will not hurt you...” said she, “I am Julia Moulin,” added with a little
nervous tone of voice.
“What am I here?” “Who brought me here? Why?” Asked Stephan, almost losing his sanity.
“You are French, aren’t you?” “Look! I do not have bad intentions. Please, just let me go.” He
begged.
“I was the person who brought you here and healed your gunshot wounds. I also put that bullet
away because if I had not done it, you would probably have died.” She was breaking out in a
cold sweat. “Yes, I am. I come from a French family” “Do not worry about that fact. I know that
I am the enemy; however, I promise that you are safe, cross my heart. The French troops will not
find you if you stay here.” Julia had a strong hope of being eye to eye.
Even though Stephan was concerned about the problematic situation, he was able to notice that
listening to her was easy on the ear. He tried to calm down himself by breathing in and breathing
out. He could not believe why she did that act of kindness. She was supposed to stand by her
nation, not helping the rival one.
“Why did you help me? You do not even know me.” “Did you notice that I am a German
soldier?” “Did you take into account that if they realize what you and I are doing, we will pay a
really high price for it?” At this point, Stephan did not know if it was a dream or the reality. He
was facing an unprecedented situation; it was just about a miracle.
“Yes, I did. I knew pretty well that you were German from the first time I saw you. In context, I
was riding my mare when I lost the control of it. It took me to a place where I should not have
been. Regrettably, I had never been so far away from home, so I was evidently disoriented.
Therefore, I decided to go into that gloomy landscape which brought me down without warning.
My eyes could not believe how the human selfishness had devoured everything that had been
marvelous some day, leaving a marked trace of millions of lost lives. It seemed to be a sea of
death, blood, and destruction where a sorrow cry was the most pleasant thing. My heart just
broke down in thousand pieces.” Her eyes welled up. “Then, a small ray of light came to me;”
said Julia, “You were there.” She smiled, “Firstly, I thought that the best thing that I could do for
you was leaving you by yourself. Nevertheless, I could not get rid of that hunch of what was
truly accurate. You already know the rest of the story now.”
“Julia,” said Stephan, “I have no words to express my gratitude. I am still alive thanks to you.
Undoubtedly, when we allow ourselves to be led by love, we are even better humans.” Added
Stephan with a huge smile.
“I am so sorry to say that I am the only one who thinks in this way;” said she with some tears in
her eyes, “You need to stay here and not to be seen. If my family finds out about you, they will
inform the colonel about the situation. They will take you, and then you will suffer the terrible
consequences.” She covered her face with her hands while uncontrollably crying. Stephan
hugged her without caring about being in terrible danger. Stephan’s first impression was that the
girl had been singularly generous with him, and his second was that his only option was trusting
on that lovely French girl.
As the days were passing by, Stephan and Julia were increasingly getting closer. They strived to
build a healthy friendship despite their differences. Clearly, Stephan had a change of heart. Julia
took advantage to see Stephan when her parents were not at home and her little sister was
sleeping. She also told him about her family. Julia’s father is a man who always follows the rules
strictly; he is a French veteran. On the other hand, her mother was the kind of woman who is
always willing to support her husband, even if he is wrong, and her little sister is a mischievous
girl who cannot keep any secret safe. Consequently, Julia needed to be very cautious with those
false moves which could lead to a greater problem.
Making the situation even worse, loving feelings started to flourish between the two young souls.
They had the purest love where the social status, the economic status, and the nationality did not
matter. Two souls that were meant to dance in the silent and cold night. Eventually, their
passions started to flow in the garden of the desire. All that could affect them some day was left
back on the way.
As the flowers wilt and the carrots spoil, happiness does not last forever. Dark times arrived
again. One morning, Julia’s little sister was playing hopscotch outside when a light rain started
falling. The girl did not want to go home because her mother would not allow her to play inside.
For that reason, she decided to go to the horse stable where she would be free to do everything
she desired. To her horror, she realized her old sister’s big mystery.
“Do not worry, darling. I am a family’s friend...” whispered Stephan, “My name is Stephan.”
Added while getting a pale face.
“Oh, really?” Said she, “I will tell my parents that you are here. You should come with me; the
house is warmer than here.”
“Of course, sweetheart...” replied Stephan, “go now, and I will catch you in a few seconds.” A
despair feeling filled his entire body.
Leaving him no option but to run, the enemy’s forces were informed by Julia’s father. He
notified that an enemy soldier was surrounding his house. As soon as the French troops were
informed, they started the manhunt. Without help and resources, Stephan was abruptly caught.
He was totally sure that it was finally his end. Miserably, he succeeded in his prediction this
time. That grey morning, the German soldier was brutally shot to death. The French soldiers
achieved what they did not do at the beginning. In the end, Stephan became one more trench
element; his blood ran all over the muddy ground, making one of two. Despite of Stephan’s
death, Julia would never forget her eternal love. He left a piece of him to her, making one of two.