In the darkness of the night Maria found herself on the way to the railway station. At the information desk she asked about the first possible train that she could take without caring about where it was going to lead her. The first train in the evening was leaving for Innsbruck she was told. She purchased the tickets and boarded the train. Her mind was confused, and she hoped to wake up soon from this nightmare. She was alone in the train department for the long hours of her trip. She was pleased not to have any company at the moment. Her thoughts hopelessly wandered back to the Villa. The thought of the children and their reaction broke her heart. She couldn't expel Georg from her mind, either. His wonderful blue eyes, his loving look came into vision while every part of her body was longing for his gentle caresses and kisses. "Maybe it was wrong of me. I shouldn't have left so quickly, maybe there is an explanation for everything." But then again she remembered the dreadful letter and then the short telegram she had received from Georg. Both instructed her to leave as soon as possible, before Georg would return.
"I love you more than anything; you are the meaning of my life. Please keep this in your mind, always." Georg's words were replaying in her head, how honest and true they had sound and how quickly those flattering words turned into a nightmare.
A few hours later the sun came out and the train pulled in the station of Innsbruck. Maria got off, but still she didn't know where to start her journey. She knew that she would need to find a job soon; her financial situation doesn't allow her to hang around for too long. Near the station she found a building with a sign saying inn. She went in to find out if there was a room for her to stay for a little while. The innkeeper, a lovely lady in her late 40s, came to assist her after she rang the bell.
"What can I do for you my daughter in this early hour?" She asked her friendly.
"I was wondering if I could find a room for a few days." Maria replied.
"Yes, we have vacancies at the moment. Please come in, my dear." She invited her in the friendliest tone. Maria complied and followed the lady inside. The woman gave her the key and Maria slowly went upstairs to her room. The woman took a long look at Maria and wondered what this young girl had gone through.
Once alone in her room Maria looked out the window but didn't notice anything of the outside world. 24 hours ago, she was a bride excitedly preparing for her wedding, and now she was a lonely and heartbroken woman. She felt exhausted, not only because of the long travel, but also her mental condition made her tired more than usual. After taking a refreshing shower she decided to get some rest, in the hope that it might be able to clear her mind and to enable her to think properly again. She slept for long hours and when she woke up she didn't know where exactly she was, when finally it dawned on her. Her mind was set to take a little walk; she knew she couldn't shut out the world. Nothing that had happened could be taken back; she had to live with the memory and the pain. The man she loved, had humiliated and hurt her. Besides these feelings, she was confused. Her emotions were mixed, on one hand she was angry with Georg and his cruel way to put an end to their relationship, but on the other hand the love she felt for him wouldn't go away either.
"You slept long, my daughter. Is everything alright with you?" The woman asked her when Maria finally went downstairs.
"Yes, I was very tired. I had a long journey behind me." Maria replied.
"Can I get you anything to eat?" The woman asked her in a very motherly tone.
"I don't know. I'm not really hungry, I was thinking of taking a little walk." Maria responded.
"Without eating anything?" The innkeeper asked in surprise. "Come my daughter. You look very pale, you should eat something." She added. Maria softly nodded. She felt out of energy, but she highly doubted that any food would help her get over the sorrow. But the woman was so friendly, and if she wanted to start a new life, she surely would need new friends. They entered the kitchen and the woman put a plate in front of Maria with some fresh hot soup.
"My name is Helena Schneider." The woman reached out her hand to Maria. She took the woman's hand and replied. "My name is Maria Rainer." Her voice still sounded a bit tired.
"Please eat, Maria." Helena gently instructed her. Maria started eating her soup, and she had to admit that it really helped calm her nerves a bit.
"Where do you come from?" Helena asked. Maria was surprised by the woman's curiosity, but she was so friendly that it made impossible for her to refuse her approaching.
"I come from Salzburg." She said shortly. She didn't feel comfortable to talk about her past. Helena noticed the uneasy expression on the girl's face, so she stopped asking her.
"Helena?" Maria asked as she put down the spoon and swallowed. "You know I just came here, and I urgently have to find a job. Do you where I should inquire?" Maria asked.
"Oh, well my child. It depends on what kind of job you are looking for." Helena said.
"Actually, I graduated from teaching, but I don't necessarily insist on that. I would take any kind of job that came along." Maria replied. Helena tried to read the expression on Maria's face; the girl seemed to be in escape from something or from someone. There must be something in her past. She didn't want to push anything, but sensed the girl was in need for a friend.
"Maria, I'm looking for some help at the moment. It's not an easy job; it ranges from kitchen work to waiting on people in the dinning room, and other duties depending on the need. Do you have experience in this field?" Helena asked.
"Oh, well not really. For a year I was a school teacher in Salzburg, and then for a few months I looked after 7 children." As she mentioned 7, Maria felt a shot of pain spreading over in her body. "They surely have found my note by now... " She thought. "But I'm sure I can learn everything." She added, her voice just above a whisper. Helena noticed the change in Maria's voice when she mentioned the 7 children.
"Well then, why don't we give each other a try? You can start working tomorrow, of course room and board is provided while you are working for me. As for today, please get some rest my child." Helena suggested, in a tone so friendly that it almost brought Maria to tears.
"Thank you, Helena." Maria softly nodded. "And thank you for the food. I already owe you so much." She added.
"Oh, nonsense." Helena laughed.
When Liesl woke up the next morning, the first thing she found was Maria's note on her doorstep. She opened the envelop and she almost screamed out „no" when she finished reading it. Quickly she ran to Maria's room, but all she could find was an empty room. She sat down on Maria's bed and started crying. The situation was something she didn't understand. Did her father hurt Maria? She couldn't put together what could have happened that made Maria leave them. It was hard on her, since she knew she had to share the news with her siblings.
All the other children started waking up, and the little ones automatically ran to their governess' room, but all they could find there was Liesl with tears in her eyes and holding the paper in her hands.
Marta's lips started trembling, as she sensed something was not all right.
"What happened? Where is Fraulein Maria?" She asked with fears.
"I don't know. She has left." Liesl replied and showed her sisters the piece of paper. By this time all the children were gathering in Maria's room, and Liesl share the content of the note with them. Tears were running down the faces, and they didn't understand how Maria could do that again, this time leaving them forever.
"When is father coming back?" Kurt asked.
"He is supposed to be home in the afternoon as far as I know. I wonder if he has anything to do with this." Liesl said, her face reflecting anger while hugging her youngest sisters to her.
A few hours later Captain von Trapp was nearing his house and his heart was filled with anticipation of seeing his children and Maria again. He had missed them so dearly; especially Maria and every part of his were longing to hold her in his arms again. A smile crossed his face as he thought of them getting married within 2 weeks.
He entered the house, but everything seemed to be unusually quiet. "Where are they? Aren't they happy I am back?" He thought in surprise. Taking the steps upstairs he decided to go and find them.
"Maria, children. Where are you hiding? Is this a joke? You know I'm not really for this hide-and-sick game." He said.
When the children heard their father arrive, they all stormed out of their rooms and ran to Georg, everyone trying to talk at the same time. Georg sensed that something was very wrong.
"Wait, wait... not at the same time please. Where is Maria?" He asked.
"Father, she has left." Liesl replied, her voice turning sad.
"What???" Georg was shocked. "I mean, why? What happened?" He had to take a seat.
"I don't know father. This is all what I have found. Besides, I gave her your telegram yesterday." Liesl replied and gave the note to her father.
"My telegram? I didn't send her anything." Georg asked in a surprised tone. What telegram was Liesl referring to? He felt that someone else's hand was involved in this that had made Maria decide to leave.
Georg read the note 5 times in a row, not wanting to believe what it contained. How did she mean it, that it was the best for everyone? Something surely had happened, but what? He looked at his children; all the 7 had tears in their eyes. He hugged them all to him. They were all what he had at the moment. The woman he loved and was about to marry had left him for a reason he didn't know. Not a single word was spoken, only the sound of soft sobbing broke the silence. When the children were put to bed, Georg slowly walked to Maria's former room. The room was empty; there was no sign of life in there. He sat down on the bed, and remembered the night when he had held her in his arms for the first time in that very bed. Tears were welling in his eyes, and he hoped that he would wake up and all these would only be a nightmare. "Maria, I loved you. Why did you leave me?" He didn't understand it, all he could think was Maria's beautiful eyes, the loving look she had on her face each time they would look at each other. He blamed himself for Maria's leaving. Maybe she had regretted their last night, something that he had been always afraid of. As he looked around in the room in search for a sign, his eyes laid upon a folded piece of paper on Maria's night table. With reserve he took the paper and unfolded it. He felt some wetness on the paper, which he identified as tears. A scream almost left his throat as he read those cruel words of the telegram. "No... who was it"??? The little piece of paper was still lying in his hand and he read it time and time again all the while trying to believe the cruel reality. He folded the paper and put it safely in his pocket.
Slowly he walked back to his chambers while coming to the realisation that he would never share this room with Maria. He looked around in his room before entering his study. A small shining piece lying on his desk caught his eyes. Approaching his desk he took the little shining piece of metal in his hand and kept it strongly in his palm. It was the engagement ring he had given to her after they had agreed to get married. There was no note for him though. He expected at least something, a little note from her with an explanation of her sudden leaving. This helpless feeling almost drove him crazy.
The next day he decided to do his best that was within his power to go and find Maria. First he wanted to check in the abbey. Ringing the bell he prayed silently to find her there, or at least some information. But when the reverend mother told him that she had not heard about Maria either, his hopes were reducing. A few tears made their ways down his cheeks and he couldn't hide them not even in front of the elderly nun.
Georg made his way home. "What shall I do now? Where shall I find her?" The pain over losing her was too intense for proper thinking.
In the next few days Georg was roaming about Salzburg looking for Maria everywhere, but there was no sign she had left behind. Maria seemed to have disappeared. Georg was already thinking of filing a report with the police. He had to find her one way or another. Sitting in the Cathedral he went into a prayer.
"My Lord. Why did you take her away from me? I needed her, my children needed her. I love her. Please keep her safe and guide her back to me."
To be continued....
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