Versprechung

Promise

Life didn't promise to be wonderful

The fallen world was vanishing behind them. The car was speeding off along the road, avoiding large chunks of building and deep trenches in the ground. Every now and again the two LSE men who sat in the front seat would turn around and ask how they were holding out. Neither answered, like usual. There was nothing to say. It was unknown why they even asked. The point was obvious that both children were emotionally scarred beyond belief. Both of them stared blankly ahead, neither knowing what to say. They had lost everything, and neither knew where they were going. Fear was prickling through both of their bodies. Neither got to say a proper goodbye to their families, but the officers assured there would be a proper burial sometime soon.

Fed up with the silence, Liesel Memingerw couldn't help but say the one word she had said multiple times that day, "Rudy…" She savored the word, the name, the way it tasted on her tongue. It danced there, and she wondered if she was dreaming herself saying it. Despite feeling as sorrowful as she did, she couldn't help but hide the flash of hope that was in her heart. Rudy was alive. He may seem like he had lost everything, but she knew that she hadn't. She still had Rudy, and right now, that was what she really needed.

"This can't be real, Saumensch. This is just a bad dream. The sirens…they would have woken everyone."

"Rudy," She whispered. "You can't get hurt in dreams." She looked helplessly down at his face. He winced in pain and held his leg as soon as the car hit a bump and made her jump a bit. She stared at him with great concern.

The blond boy stared straight ahead, his blue eyes filled with pain and unshed sorrow. Why isn't he crying? Liesel silently wondered. How can he hold it in? He was much stronger than she ever was. She had known that from the beginning, but he was emotionally strong. He had just lost everything… "Liesel, we've lost everything."

"Saukerl," She hissed softly, "We haven't lost each other." She stared at the boy below her again. She couldn't stop the memories that flowed into her mind. She remembered him diving into the river to save her book, them racing back in the beginning when she had first arrived on Himmel Street, playing soccer in the street, their many acts of thievery… 'One day, Liesel, you'll be dying to kiss me.'

As if reading her thoughts, Rudy gave a small smile, "Remember when you first came to Himmel Street? And we raced a hundred meters at Hubert Oval?"

Liesel managed a smile. "It was the first time you asked me to kiss you."

"Doesn't it seem like such a long time ago?"

She pondered it for a moment. He was right. It seemed like a lifetime ago. Where had those days gone? She felt more alone as she thought about it. The memory was flooding more and more vividly into her mind. It was pouring down rain, they were covered in mud, and she was in one of her new dresses. Rudy was all muddy faced and sharp teeth and gangly eyed. After returning, Mama had made mincemeat out of her, and had to be given another bath. "Like a lifetime ago."

"Life never promised to be wonderful."

Silence fell over them. Liesel wondered what Rudy was thinking as he stared out the window, wincing occasionally at the pain in his broken leg. For the first time she really looked at herself. Her clothes was ripped in various places. Her hands were raw and bleeding, same with her fingers. She had multiple scratches and bruises along her body, she noticed, and she could actually begin to feel the pain from the collapse of the house. Why had she been immune to it before? She looked at Rudy for what felt like the first time, too. She saw all his wounds, his shattered soul lurking behind those misty blue eyes, and his dusty lemon-colored hair that seemed a much darker shade due to the amount of residue residing in it.

Folding her hands in her lap, she looked down, subconsciously whispering, "We're all each has left…"

"Was?" Rudy said, turning around to face her. What?

"Nichts," She murmured. Nothing.

Silence.

"Rudy?"

"Ja?"

"Can you promise me something?"

"What is it?"

Liesel entwined her fingers with his, giving his hand a soft squeeze. "Please…promise me…we will never leave each other. Since you are all I have, and I am all you have. If we've made it this far…just…Versprechung?"

There was a twinkle in Rudy's eye that Liesel caught, but it was gone before she could figure out what the twinkle was. The boy squeezed her hand, nodding. His lips barely moved as he turned and smiled at her. "Versprechung."

End Chapter