LOVE PROMISES

“The stench of death hangs in the air, and fear seeps into every corner of the city. In the chaos of war, the innocent always pay the highest price.”

Fen’s heart raced as she stared at the group of men in army uniforms getting out of several cars. Her eyes were wide with hope—it couldn’t be the Japanese army, could it?

She saw the familiar camouflage of the Chinese army, complete with security gear. Soldiers stood guard at every corner of the emergency tent where Fen and her friends worked. Some began unloading suitcases filled with firearms and supplies from the patrol cars.

Seeing this, Fen exhaled deeply. Her heart began to calm, relieved it wasn’t the Japanese. Who knew what might have happened if the Japanese soldiers had come? The fragile calm could have turned into terror, maybe even a deadly shootout between the troops and any patients brave enough to resist.

"Fen!" a soldier called out, waving his hand. His voice broke through her anxious thoughts.

"Oi, Chen!" she called back, recognizing her old friend from years ago. Fen’s graceful attitude and selflessness had stolen the hearts of many soldiers, including Chen.

He ran toward her, his smile revealing how happy he was to see her. "Fen, are you okay? Is everything alright?" he asked, looking into her eyes. He was tall, strong, and charming, with an authoritative presence, yet his smile was warm. A gun hung at his side, adding to his heroic aura.

"I'm fine, thank you, Chen. But why are all these soldiers here? What happened?" Fen asked, confused as soldiers bustled around, carrying rifles and large suitcases.

"We heard the Japanese seized your medical equipment earlier," Chen explained. "So, Lieutenant Xiao Lue sent seven mobile troops to provide special security for the medical team, to prevent it from happening again."

Fen nodded, feeling her chest lighten. The fear that had weighed so heavily on her began to fade. "So, you're here to protect us?" she asked.

"Yes," Chen replied. "In short, we’re here to make sure you and your patients are safe."

Now that reinforcements had arrived, Fen felt more confident that the patients would recover without any further threats. She hoped that luck and security would stay on their side, and that independence for her country was within reach.

“Is Doctor Lim okay? I heard he was shot,” Chen added, scanning the area for the familiar face of Doctor Lim.

“He’s stable. His heartbeat is normal, and he’s being treated by Doctors Yuan and Yu Jiang,” Fen reassured him.

Chen nodded, releasing a small, tight breath. “This is terrible.”

“Are you okay, Chen? What about your mission?” Fen asked, noticing his gaze shifting to the wounded patients.

“I... I’m fine. My mission went smoothly, but I haven’t been called to the battlefield yet. My commander still needs me for strategic planning, so I’ve been assigned to guard posts and provide security,” Chen replied, his eyes lingering on the scene of suffering before him.

Fen nodded silently in response.

"Fen, doesn’t your heart ache seeing scenes like this?" Chen asked, his voice full of pity as he looked at the wounded children and helpless patients, all victims of the war between two nations.

“For a long time, my heart hurt, and I cried often,” Fen said, her voice soft yet steady. "But over time, I’ve grown stronger. I believe that, eventually, everything will end beautifully. Those who have passed are now in a much better place."

Chen tried to hold back his tears as he looked at his brother, lying weak and wounded.

"You don’t need to cry," Fen said, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Chen, bring them happiness and freedom. Their future rests on your shoulders."

Chen smiled, determination returning to his eyes. "I will. I’ll fight for our country’s freedom, Fen. I’ll do my best to ensure a better life for our people."

With that, Chen walked away to greet a group of children playing near the emergency tent.

As Fen watched him go, her heart swelled with a mix of relief and lingering dread. The sight of Chinese soldiers brought a momentary comfort, like a flicker of light in the endless night of war, but the uncertainty still clung to the air like a heavy, suffocating mist. The weight of the past days, filled with fear and loss, was still heavy on her shoulders. She had seen so many lives lost, so much suffering sometimes it seemed as if no amount of reinforcements could truly make a difference.

She cast a glance around the tent. The patients, huddled under thin blankets, their bodies broken and spirits shattered by the relentless conflict, were staring at the soldiers too, their eyes a strange blend of hope and wariness. Children, who should have been laughing and playing in the safety of their homes, sat with haunted faces, eyes far older than their years, still trying to grasp the madness that had torn their world apart. These young souls carried scars—both seen and unseen—that would stay with them long after the guns had fallen silent.

Fen took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, but her mind was still racing. It wasn’t long ago that she had stood at the edge of despair, with Japanese soldiers invading their medical tent, taking everything they had, and mercilessly shooting Doctor Lim. It was a moment that shattered her, that made her wonder if hope itself was a luxury no one could afford anymore. And yet, here they were reinforcements from her own people, standing guard, ready to defend.

But was it enough?

Fen couldn’t shake the feeling that this calm was only temporary, a fragile silence before the inevitable chaos that would soon return. The Japanese wouldn’t give up so easily—they never had.

The war between their countries had escalated beyond control, spiraling into a nightmare that gripped the land and its people with an iron fist. She knew in her heart that this was far from over, that the battles they had fought so far were only the beginning.

Her thoughts returned to Chen, her dear friend, now speaking with a group of children who were cautiously watching the soldiers as if unsure whether to trust them. Chen was always brave, always strong, but she had seen a flicker of something else in his eyes—something she hadn’t seen before.

Perhaps it was the weight of the mission, the toll of seeing so much suffering. Or maybe, like her, he was beginning to realize that this war might not have a simple, swift ending.

As she watched him try to smile at the children, offering them comforting words, Fen felt a deep pang of empathy. The burden he carried was enormous, just like hers. They were both fighting battles, in different ways—his with guns and strategies, hers with medicine and healing.

But both were fighting for something far greater: the dream of a free and peaceful country, where children could run and laugh without fear, where doctors like her wouldn’t have to sew up the wounds of war, and where soldiers like Chen wouldn’t have to leave their families behind to face death.

A cold gust of wind blew through the tent, sending shivers down her spine. She hugged her arms close to her body and turned her gaze toward the horizon. The dark clouds in the distance mirrored the darkness in her heart.

Was peace really possible in a world so consumed by violence and hatred? Could they truly break free from the grip of colonialism, of war, of suffering?

For now, they had no choice but to hold onto the fragile hope that they could. Fen’s resolve, though battered, still stood strong. Every patient she treated, every wound she healed, was an act of resistance against the cruelty of war. As long as her hands could heal, she would fight in her own way.

A sudden commotion near the entrance of the tent pulled her from her thoughts. More soldiers had arrived—this time, with heavy weapons and more reinforcements. The air buzzed with tension as orders were barked, rifles clinked, and boots pounded against the dirt.

Chen turned back toward her, his face unreadable for a moment before he gave a slight nod, as if to reassure her that everything was under control.

But Fen couldn’t ignore the unease crawling beneath her skin. Despite the reinforcements, despite the brave words of the soldiers, the war was still out there, creeping ever closer. The battle for survival never truly ended—not for the soldiers, not for the doctors, and certainly not for the innocent lives caught in between.

She glanced at the children again, their wide, fearful eyes watching every move the soldiers made. They had seen too much for their age. Fen felt a surge of protectiveness rise within her. These children were the future of her country, and it was for them and countless others like them that she would keep going, no matter how hard it became.

Chen approached her again, this time with a more serious expression. "Fen, we may need to relocate soon. There’s word of increased activity near the borders. It’s not safe here anymore."

Her heart sank at the news, but she knew better than to let fear take hold. She met Chen’s gaze and gave a firm nod. "Then we’ll be ready," she said, her voice steady.

As she turned to organize the troops, Fen allowed herself one final glance at the sky. Would this fragile peace hold, or was it just the calm before the storm? Only time would tell.

But no matter what came next, Fen knew one thing for certain, she would face it with everything she had. She would fight for her people, for her country, and for the hope that someday, this nightmare would end, and a new dawn would rise.