[i]"You decided against it, though?"
[/i]

He paused halfway to the door. [i]What had he done[/i] he thought as he turned round to face Matilda. He wasn’t thinking logically and allowed his emotions to get the better of him. Only if she understood what it was like over the channel; the constant fear of death, the stress and pressure of having 500 men in your care.  

[b]“Because I didn’t want to make you a widow,”[/b] he said taking a step towards her. [b]“Because over there is my living hell. I wake up every morning not knowing if I would make it to the evening and I spent my nights writing letters to the families of the dead. I couldn’t bare the thought of one day my Colonel sending you that letter.”[/b]

Arthur turned away from her, embarrassed by his outburst. His cheeks flushed red and his heart pounded away in his chest. Right at that moment he longed to be anywhere, because at the very least on the battlefield he knew what he was meant to do.

The Major was brought back into reality as Matilda gasped, her face contort in pain. Arthur dashed to her and grabbed her shoulder to steady her.

[b]“You need to sit Matilda[/b],” he said. 

But, if you want to leave, I shan't stop you. I might think it mildly unnecessary and odd, but I shan't stop you." She said, and even in the discomfort she ounced up the energy to smile.