Chapter 1


Virginia

September 1947

Elena left her parent's house happy. Her steps were skipping a bit as she walked through her small home town. She enjoyed the fresh air and the beautiful colours of the leaves as fall started getting closer. She couldn't keep herself from walking a bit faster when his house came in view. Her face broke into a smile when she saw his face in the window. When he opened the door and stepped out she ran into his arms.

Matt held her as close as he possibly could as he breathed in her scent, his nose buried in her hair. She giggled and pulled herself away from his arms and he stared into her brown doe eyes. She smiled as she leaned up and kissed him.

Elena pulled away from the kiss and stared into his face, expecting his usual happy self, but found worry and sadness in his eyes instead. Her insides turned to ice as she considered everything that could be wrong.

"Matt?" she asked, her voice not much more than a whisper. "Matt, what's wrong?"

He looked down and squeezed her tighter. "I.." he began, not finding the words to speak. "I…"

"Matt tell me what's wrong!"

"I've been called up for service, Elena." he said quietly, not really looking at her.

She backed away from him, completely terrified. Tears filled her eyes as she put her hands over her mouth and started crying. Matt reached for her and held her to him as she cried, letting a few tears of his own fall without her noticing. He stroke her hair and supported her as she leaned heavily against him, hardly able to stand on her own.

"Shh." he soothed her as he stroke her hair and back with one hand, the other around her lower back, supporting her weight. "Shh, Elena, it's gonna be alright."

She pulled away from his and stared at him, tears streaming down her face.

"Alright?!" she yelled. "You're going to war, how is anything going to be alright?!"

He stroke her cheek, smiling a little. "I'm going to come back to you"

"But what if-"

He put a finger to her lips and took a deep breath. "And if I don't, you'll be fine. You're strong Elena, if anyone can make it on their own; it's you!"

She stared into his eyes and then threw herself in his arms and held him tight.


She could hardly look as the train departed. It held two of her most beloved people, Matt and her little brother Jeremy. Jeremy had just turned 18 and that made him old enough to be called in for service. She felt broken but she hadn't cried, she had told herself she wouldn't. At least as long as Matt and Jeremy could see her. But the moment she couldn't see the train anymore she broke down.


So… A new story. I got inspired by this pretty unknown musical about WW2 and decided to make my own story based on it. I really hope you like it, and just to tease you a bit I can tell you that I have a new chapter for The Benefits of Betrayal coming up soon!

Love, Louise