Natalie. Roberto
Oh my dear friend Roberto. I remember back to our time, when we made love. Not the last time but the time before. When you were doing your college film studies and were so happy on your future. It was you who said, “Nat, I’ll make the best film ever made.” And his dear eyes were so full of passion, life and innocence. And a love so powerful, I cried, right there. Love for life, film, his country and lastly, for me. I new then in that moment, Roberto loved me. Maybe more than all the other things. How was that possible?

I replied to his film statement. “Tell me, what film will you make Roberto?” Those precious eyes clouded over. I heard him whisper: “Why Natalie, I’ll make the film about you. A small story about you, how you’re in a band and love to fly in your red stunt plane. My film is about you Natalie.”

I was utterly speechless. Those close to me and anyone who cared to listen knew my voice was always in motion, just like the ocean. He looked at me. That moment is still with me, over thirty years later. I never did reply to him. I embraced him and cried tears of joy. For him and for a love I had but never dared admit to myself, till Roberto died in a British artillery barrage weeks later. I was in love with him. He has no known grave.

Was his body found and marked ‘Unknown Argentine Soldier’ because he had no dog tags? Those beautiful innocent eyes are gone forever. I can’t remember what colour your eyes were!

Oh my dear Roberto, I say it now. Every day since you were killed in battle, I say aloud my love for you. Even now I’m married to Nick and am with him, he understands. His words bring clarity to me when I weep for you, dear Roberto. A life stolen by war, unfulfilled. You never did make your film about me, never completed your film course or chased your dreams. All dreams shattered by Them, those who forced you to join our army to fight the English.

I quietly say to myself, your end was fast and you never suffered. I don’t know exactly where you lost your young life, just the area. I’ve been there to see with my own eyes. I felt you were nearby to me. Are you still earth bound my love? Are you? I sense that you are. Please be happy for me and my new family. I wanted all this with you but war stole you from me, forever. I can’t remember what colour your eyes were!

At least I have someone who should hate me for what I did to his countrymen and who listens to my incoherent words about you Roberto. It shouldn’t be Nick wiping away my tears, it should be you. Please stay close to me. I have to move on from those awful times. I dedicate my life to peace. Please understand my lost friend.

Natalie. Basic
Basic flight training was like dancing to The Elementals. Basic, scary and fun. Did Nat know that in a year she would be at the controls of a deadly multi million dollar warplane in the wrong war, with the wrong enemy? No amount of gothic looks would appease her situation over the coming months. Was it all real? That was a distant question, not for now.

The girl danced and flew with equal passion and ferocity. Her brown hair was all over her face and she danced like a spinning airplane. Eyes shut, she was somewhere else. In her mind, she was in the cockpit of her red coloured training plane. Her flight instructor, Alberto, allowed Natalie to acrobat the little plane. She flew it with wildness that surprised everyone, including her.

Rolling upside down and pulling the control stick to her guts, the red airplane moved like a kid’s toy. Diving straight downwards, picking up speed. Alberto was going to take over before top speed was reached but Nat second guessed him and pulled back into a half loop. Up they went into the blue, a hawk in the heavens. Free. Natalie screamed in joy. Looking over at Alberto, her smile said it all. She was a born pilot.

When the record changed, Nat went to the bar and ordered a glass of red wine. Joining her friends, they chatted on guys, music and Nat’s new air force career. Several of her friends had nice boyfriends or lovers with them. In close embraces, they kissed and made small talk. Nat chatted to Katie, on the fundamentals of aerobatics and flight, demonstrating how to loop and roll with her hand. Her other held her wine. Time passed, music played, wine was drunk and Nat slow danced with Roberto.

Being Catholic and part of a close knit family, the girl was a bit of a rebel. Her mother wanted Natalie to marry and have children. Nat was having none of this; it was music, flying and the air force. Not even men like handsome Roberto swayed the girl for marriage. He was local and conscripted in the army. His passion was films and he had to give up college to serve his country. After a year he would finish off his film studies, if fate allowed. Both were friends and occasional lovers, now they danced in Sacha’s.

There's a mountain climber
Enjoying the breeze
As he takes a deep breath
On a peak among the trees

There's a tired girl
Relaxing in a shady spot
Trying to decide
Whether to take a nap or not

There's a teenager
With music in his ears
He's losing himself in the beat
And forgetting all his fears

There's a distance runner
Picking up his slack
And he feels a sense of pride
Because he's finishing at the head of the pack

There's a student
Who has just finished a test
And she's letting out a sigh of relief
Now she can get some rest

There's a group of kids
Who are trying to leave the heat
And as they jump into a pool
The cool water swallows them complete

There's a man coming off of work
His children hug him at the door
And in that cherished moment
He remembers what he's working for

But of all these simple pleasures
There's one that reigns supreme
Because there's a boy writing a poem
About the way love feels with the girl of his dreams.

I was finally home
Our fingers laced together like the strings on our shoes
It was the reward we had earned
For the days spent paying our dues

You showed me what your life was
And I took it all in like a child at Disney
I was overwhelmed by memories I didn't own
We enjoyed each other's company blissfully

Just you and I, me and you
We drove into the night
While love songs filled our ears
I whispered a silent prayer as my heart took flight

"Let it last,
Let us be forever
Cause I've found happiness on Earth
Since we've been together"

The time we had was short
But that was all it took
I had found the perfect life
Your soul had overcome me, down to the smallest cranny and nook

That's why I was crushed by sadness when I left
The bond between us was being wrought
And though it was the purest pain I had ever felt,
I stayed strong because you were my every thought.

Now I close my eyes and see your face
My future is reflected in your gaze,
Time and space are trying to tear us apart
But we have each other, and we'll make it through the maze.

One day your name will be etched across my chest
Each letter imprinting itself on my beating heart
A murmur will float from one vein to the next
Urging my crimson blood to paint it like a piece of art.

It will spread through my body like a wildfire
And every cell will whisper of its sweet beauty
I will discover it's complexities and fulfill my desires
To know it in its purest form will be my only duty.

As it gradually makes its way into my soul I am compelled to smile
For I feel love blooming like a rose from the essence of my being.
And I've kept it in my thoughts for more than just a while,
Because having you in my life is the only thing worth guaranteeing