31st October 1941
"Bert! Bertie-Boy ", Johnny called and ran against Bert who was just coming from behind the corner.
"Yea'?"
Instead of an answer, John gave him an envelope. When Bert saw the writing, his eyes widened: it wasn't Mary's handwriting.
"It's from Lizzy!"
Bert went back around the corner so he could read. She was alive and that was the most important thing for him!
He opened the envelope impatiently and read:
Hey Bert,
You haven't heard from me in months and I'm so so sorry. I know that I could and should have written earlier... But there was never really an opportunity.
Mary hasn't heard from me since the end of August, but I'm going to write her letter after this one.
You're probably wondering what I'm doing right now. Well... I'm traveling across the country; go where I am most needed. I'm currently in Dover but my journey will continue very soon... To France to be precise.
I mostly helped out in hospitals, but I also looked after the wounded who I came across.
I know you're worried. But I'm fine... really!
But how are you? I know you will never tell me details, but I still want an honest answer.
I have something for you. A photo. Mary and I took the photo just before I left. I thought you might be happy about it. In addition, you always have a piece of us with you.
I hope we'll see each other again soon
Your Lizzy
P.S .: If you want to answer me, burn your letter... just throw it in the fire. Trust me.
Bert took the photo from the envelope and looked at it lovingly:
It showed a portrait of Mary and Elizabeth.
Mary looked like always. However, Liz looked a little older and more adult. Nevertheless, both smiled at the camera and you could see that this was an honest smile.
He walked back quickly, "Johnny! Look," he said at a moderate volume.
The young soldier turned around and Bert held up the photo: "Look what Liz sent me."
Johnny took the photo and looked at it with a smile: "Wow... Are these Mary and Liz?" He asked without looking away.
"Yea'"
"Mary is beautiful..." Bert recognised that the private looked back and forth between him and the photo a few times. A little as if he couldn't believe that such a woman was in a relationship with a guy like Bert.
"She's indeed", Bert took the photo again and ran his thumb over it, "I miss 'er .."
Without another word, he went back to the corner where he came from a bit earlier.
In the evening, Bert sat, wrapped in a blanket, by a small campfire and looked up at the starry sky. His thoughts revolved around everything. He thought of London, Mary, the chimney sweeps, and of course Liz. At the last thought he took the letter out of his pocket and read it again.
He had spent the whole day thinking about what to answer, but had no good idea.
But at that moment, however, he thought it would be most honest to just write his thoughts down.
He took the pen and paper out of the backpack that stood next to him and began to write:
Lizzy,
I don't think you can imagine how glad I am to receive a letter from you!
To be honest, I was expecting the worst when I got the news that you were going to dangerous regions.
I could tell you what a stupid decision that was, but I know that this doesn't stop you from doing it anyway. You're a little bit like Mary... Only more stubborn!
Please do not get me wrong. I don't want to blame you; I'm just worried about you and I'm scared to be honest. If something happens to you, we will never have any real certainty...
But then again I'm proud of you! You help those who are really bad and this is an honorable task that you do.
To answer your question: I'm fine according to the circumstances. Yes, I see a lot of misery and I really don't want to go into this any further. But I still stand on both feet and I am unharmed - things that cannot be taken for granted in such places at such a time.
I beg you Lizzy: please write me letters more often! No matter how much or little you have to tell. I just want to know that you are fine and that you are still alive.
Take care of yourself,
Bert
The corporal dropped pen and paper when he saw the small fire. He looked back and forth between the campfire and the letter. Should he really do it?
"I trust 'er," he murmured before throwing the letter into the fire.
He looked up at the sky again and wondered who else was looking there.
But he would not have guessed that Liz was also sitting in front of a small campfire in a forest in France and looking up at the starry sky. And he would not have guessed that she was startled shortly after when a letter suddenly appeared in the fire.
I hope you enjoyed this little chapter :)
In the next chapter it will be… interesting :3 I don't want to reveal too much, but there will be a vague answer to some questions ;D