Liesel was sitting in the back of the shop when a stranger whose hair was like feathers came into Alex's store. The man was like a bag of bones with his clothes hanging off him. Alex didn't know what to think when he asked for Liesel.
"Who wants to know?" Alex asked defensive. Liesel was the only family he had now; she was practically a young woman now so Alex had to step in as her only father figure. The strange man smiled straightening his shoulders.
"I am the author of the word shaker, a dear friend, and a man with a gift."
Alex didn't quite understand what he meant but he could tell there was no harm from the man. Alex called for Liesel from the back of the shop.
"Did the new shipment come in—" Liesel stopped in the door way, mouth hanging to the floor. For a long time Liesel stared at the man, Alex stared at Liesel and no one breathed.
"Is that really you?" Liesel broke the silence. Tears started to fall down her cheeks.
"Max is that really you? Are you really here?"
Max smiled more, quickly crossing the room.
"Of course it is my little word shaker."
Max picked her up in his arms hugging her, he felt as if his heart would break. How many months had it been since that day? How big she had gotten, the skinny girl who had taken him into her home was now a grown woman. How many nights had he dreamed of coming back to her? After the Americans librated the camp Max first looked for his mother. She and everyone else he knew were either dead or missing. A lot of Jewish families were missing. He had nowhere else to go but back to his real family on Himmel Street.
"Liesel, where is Hans and Rosa?"
"Oh Max!" Liesel sobbed into Max's neck. Alex, who had been standing in the corner while the two young people hugged, decided it was time to intervene.
"Perhaps you and I should get better acquainted."
Max tried to detangle himself from Liesel to follow a retreating Alex.
"No! Max, don't leave me…Don't leave." Liesel tightened her strangle around Max's neck. She knew this was childish but something inside her thought if she let go he would fly away. Max and Alex exchanged an adult look that only they seem to be able to decipher. They would speak later that night, after Liesel had fallen asleep, but for now they both understood the need for a child to cling to anything familiar to them after everything else had disappeared.
Alex took them to a small apartment above the shop both him and Liesel had been living in the past few months. It was small; two bedrooms a small living room and a bathroom the size of a small closet. Alex had to go back down to watch over the shop while Liesel and Max sat on the living room floor hand in hand.
"I've missed you so Liesel." Max whispered in Liesel's hair. She still smelled the same Max noticed; smooth soap with a hint of books. She did still like books right? Did she like to write still? She did, but Max couldn't help but be sad with all the time spent apart and unknowns. A lot can happen in two years.
"I thought you died." Liesel whispered back to him, so quiet it was a hint of a sound. But Max would have heard it even if she had made no sound at all. They could both feel it in the air, the sense of dread, the color of happiness, and the ugly face of grief. They stayed like that for hours not saying anything just holding on to the only thing familiar to them anymore: each other.
"Is she asleep?" Alex had bought some extra food for Max, he and Liesel were financially ok but just barely. There was still no money in Germany. Alex set the food on the only table in the little apartment.
"I think so." Max whispered, slowly he tried his second attempt to untangle himself from the girl's grip. He succeeded this time with hallow satisfaction. Max knew that Himmel street had been bombed, everyone knew that, what he didn't know was the extent of the damage on Liesel, on his little Book Thief.
Liesel could feel someone standing over her as she lay in her bed.
"Papa?" Liesel asked the man, the man was not her Papa but in fact Max.
"I didn't mean to wake you, I couldn't sleep." Liesel sat up so Max could sit with her.
"Nightmares again?"Liesel asked expectantly. Max placed his hands on either side her face, both their hearts where racing, but for different reasons.
"No. I couldn't sleep knowing you were so close. You're the only family I have Liesel…I'm…I'm lost Liesel." Max hid his face against her night shirt ashamed of his faults, but feeling free because he was finally able to share his fears with someone who would understand. Liesel wasn't really sure how to comfort Max other than to allow him to rest knowing that she was there, and that they were there together and alive.
"Alex told me about Rudy." Max said with a sigh. "I'm so sorry."
The Book Thief pulled Max's face toward hers.
"Don't say his name."
They weren't sure who made the first move but they were both kissing each other, tears flowing around their faces. It wasn't a kiss of passion, but of necessity. It was the Human need of someone familiar, of love, friendship, and acknowledgment. They quickly broke apart, both equally stunned. People say the after effects of war can really alter the way a person thinks.
"Ah….Liesel?" Max said in the silence. Liesel laughed nervously. Either one knew what to say, mostly because they had kissed for different reasons then other. Max did it for comfort; Liesel did it because it was what seemed right.
"Max stay with me until I fall asleep ok?"
Nothing else was said, Max sat back down on the corner of the girl's bed until early morning thinking about how much he missed her.