stories that will warm your heart

" Love is created from the sweetest happiness and deepest pain of the world." Bailey The clock above the information desk at New York's Grand Center train station showed six minutes to six. The tall, tannd lieutenant blinked, trying to make out the exact time. His heart was beating at a rate that surprised him. In six minutes, he would see the woman who had been so important in his life for thirteen months, the woman he had never seen, but whose writings had given him courage even in his most desperate moments. Lieutenant Blandford jumped when he saw a girl pass him. Although there was a flower on the girl's lapel, it wasn't the red rose the lieutenant had agreed upon with the mysterious woman. Besides, this girl was only 18, at most, whereas Hollis Meynell had written 30. The lieutenant replied in his letter, "I am also 32." In reality, he was 29. The lieutenant remembered the novel he had read in Vietnam. Every page was filled with notes written by a woman. Until then, Lieutenant Blandford had never imagined that a woman could understand a man's psyche so well. Her name was on the cover: Hollis Meynell. The novel was one of thousands of books given to soldiers as gifts by well-wishers. The lieutenant had found Hollis Meynell's address in the New York telephone book. He had written to her and received a reply. The woman had responded to the lieutenant's letters sincerely for thirteen months. Even when he hadn't received any, she continued writing. Hollis Meynell had refused to send him photographs. "My appearance shouldn't matter to you. Assume you know I'm beautiful. Then I'll think you're only interested in me because I'm beautiful, and I'll be uncomfortable all my life. Conversely, if you know I'm ugly, I'll think you're only writing to me because I'm a lonely woman. Don't ask for my picture. When you get back to New York, you'll see me and make up your mind..." she said. It was one minute to six. Suddenly Lieutenant Blandford's heart leapt into his throat. A young woman was walking toward him. She was elegant, with silky blonde hair pulled back in curls behind her ears. Her eyes were a gentle blue. In her pale green dress, she looked like spring. The lieutenant, forgetting she had no flower on her lapel, walked toward her. The young woman smiled. Emboldened, the lieutenant took another step and saw Hollis Meynell. She was standing right behind the young woman. She was well past 40. Her graying hair was tucked into an old hat. Hollis Meynell was also quite fat, and wore coarse, flat-heeled shoes on her thick-ankleed feet. But she had a red rose on her coat lapel. The girl in the green dress was walking away slowly. Blandford is torn between two irreconcilable desires: to watch the girl and, at the same time, to talk to the woman who has given him courage in his darkest hours. The lieutenant didn't hesitate. He pulled out a worn novel from his pocket to introduce himself to the woman. He knew he couldn't love this woman, but he felt indebted to her. After greeting her, the lieutenant handed her the book. Despite everything, he was deeply disappointed. "I'm Lieutenant John Blandford, Miss Meynell. I'm so glad you've come this far. May I take you to dinner?" he said. "Son, I have nothing to do with these events. But that girl in the green dress who went there put a rose on my lapel. She said that if you invite me to dinner, I should tell her that she is waiting for you at the restaurant on the other side of the street."