I'm changing the narratives of the story, so that Wendla and Melchior tell the story in their own words, instead of in the third person point of view.

This chapter begins with Melchior…

~ I glanced around to make sure it is safe, then dart into the cemetery.

After roaming around, I noticed a familiar headstone and examined it, reading the inscription.

"Moritz," I whispered. "My old friend."

The church tower's clock struck midnight, its bells echoing in the sky.

I looked around. Had she gotten the note? Would she come?

"Wendla?" I hissed into the shadows. "Wendla?"

"Melchi?"

I heard her voice behind me, distant but close. I turned around.

Wendla was standing with Ilse at the gate of the burial grounds.

"Oh, Melchi, it's really you!" She ran to me and we shared a deep embrace.

"It's going to be alright, Wendla." I held her tightly. "I promise."

To hold her in my arms again feels as if my heart shall burst from my chest. I shall never let her go again, for as long as I live.

"Melchi, my mother," Wendla started to cry.

"What? What happened?" I asked her softly, rubbing her back to soothe her.

She looks up at me and tells me all that has happened.

~When I finished explaining everything, Melchior had never looked so angry than I have seen him before.

"Wendla, I promise, no one will ever try to take our child from us. Never." He held me close to him very tight.

"We'll go away from here," he continued. "We can start a new life together. We'll build a better world for our child, our family."

"Oh, yes Melchi!" I agreed. "Let's do it!"

Then a thought occurred to me. "But, where will we go?"

"We may have to travel a ways," he said. "Maybe even live somewhere in secret for a while. But I promise, we'll be alright."

"Of course you will be." Ilse joined us. "I'll give you everything you'll need before you go. You won't have to worry about a thing, Wendla."

I smiled. I knew he was right; Melchior would always protect me, just like he promised, because he loves me, and I love him.

An hour later, Melchi and I were at the edge of the village border with Ilse.

We had several bags and knapsacks with us; Melchior told me that the only way we could get what we need to survive was to steal it, until we got somewhere safe and could make our own money.

Ilse helps us sneak into shops and other buildings and we search for and find things that Melchior and I will need: clothes, food, tools, and other supplies.

When we finish, I break into tears. I had never done something like this before, break the law.

Melchior hugs me close. "It's just it's…"

"It's to help us survive, Wendla. To help us stay together." He murmurs in my ear. "Never forget that."

I nod and wipe away my tears.

The three of us head back to the road where Ilse's cottage stood aside and peered out to a tall mound of hills ahead of it, and in the far off distance the outline of a forest is visible.

I had never left home before, and now I was leaving forever.

"There's nothing but roads and wilderness for miles," Ilse told us. "You'll have to take shelter somewhere at some point, but you won't want to be seen, of course."

"We'll manage something," Melchior replied. He took hold of the rug sacks.

"Thank you, Ilse, for everything." I hug my friend, Melchior following so.

We start walking not once stopping to look back. I could never look back; I didn't even want to.

All I wanted to do was be with Melchi and begin a new life with him, where no one could keep us apart.