Hi loves,

Two updates today as I had time on my hands and Ideas in my head. Once again thank you for your kind reviews - S

7 months later - 14/07/1918

The letters had passed between them every moth or so, it felt to Tommy that whenever the post arrived he had another letter from Anna. He found himself disappointed when one didn't arrive but he dismissed the thought and found himself hoping for the next delivery. He told no one about the letters from the young girl back in Birmingham, concerned they would judge him for corresponding with a dead soldiers girl. When a letter did arrive he took him self away from the other men, especially his brothers to have a moment alone with her words. They had spoken of there childhoods and happier times before the war began. They never spoke of what was happening in the war and she never spoke of Freddie again after her first letter to him. He did not want to ask why, he did not care- not really. When he thought of her, he liked to think of her happy not sad over what she had lost. He liked to imagine her sat in her room writing him letters and spraying them with her perfume.

The letter arrived on the 14th it was the day he felt his head begin to beat again, a warmth spread across his cheeks, his brother had laughed at him when he returned with his letter, teasing him for blushing. He had clipped Arthur around the ear, Shelby men did not blush but whenever he thought of her words he couldn't help the warmth from spreading.

Dear Thomas,

I am sorry that my last letter did not reach you, my sister say that sometimes the letters get lost. She was surprised to hear that I was still writing to you, she had thought I had said my thanks and made my peace but how do you make peace Thomas? It feels as though the days have gotten longer and I'm not sure how to make it right again.

I stopped working in the factory and have started training to be a nurse, they say they will need a lot of them when the war is over for all of the injured men returning home. They say it will be over soon, by Christmas! I know you told me not to believe the papers but I think this time they may be true.

I want to refer you back to the first letter I sent to you Thomas, I asked you what you have to hold on to and you never did answer my question. Thanks fine, I understand why. It's because you have nothing to hold on too. I want to help you find something to hold on to, you will find something and when you get home you can have it and it will feel incredible Thomas! Can you imagine that?

I finally went to the pub like you said, I sat and had a glass of water and watched as a group of women went into a private room, I heard someone call them the Shelby's. I'm presuming that is your family. I did not speak to them, it felt invasive and wrong as I do not know them but maybe when you return I could meet them with you?

All my love,

Anna

Her words had echoed in his mind I could meet them with you She wanted to meet his family, they had never discussed meeting before. He had presumed that once the was over they would stop writing and move on with there lives, there friendship forgotten another piece of the war that would be blurred by the screams and the suffocation. He did not want to think of the final three words she had written, had he led her on? Why would she write such words. She's grieving, she wants something to hold on too.

Tommy could not help but take a final glance at the woman in the picture before he began writing his letter, what was he doing.

Dear Anna,

I am pleased to hear you are doing well and that you have started training to be a nurse but I am afraid that there will not be any need for new nurses when we return as I am concerned that many of the men will not make it home. Myself included, If that is the case and you do not receive another reply from me I want you to go to the garrison and ask for me. If I am dead, they will know. I hate to say these words but I do not want you to be left alone once more without knowing the truth. If the war is to end by Christmas I hope it ends soon, the rations have slowed down and the men around me are starving. It's one thing to fight but another to fight hungry. As I have said before Anna, do not believe the papers they do not know the truth.

I have also not told anyone of our correspondence, I want to keep this private, it is the only thing I have here that is my own. You asked what I have to hold on to and you are correct, I did avoid your question because at that time I had no idea what it was but when its dark and I can not sleep I think about your question, it repeats in my mind. When I return I plan on working on the family business, I plan on making my family strong again. They deserve this much, especially my Aunt who is raising my brothers children and managing the business alone.

You said you had seen my family, I hope they are well. We have not discussed meeting once the war is over and I have to admit that your statement shocked me, I was not expecting you to want to meet me. If this is what you wish to happen Anna then that is what will happen. We will have a party at the garrison to celebrate the end of the war and I shall present you to my family.

So in response to your question Anna, I will hold on to that.

Kind regards,

Tommy