I never did see him again. Not properly anyway. For that morning we received an urgent telegram.
Swan Family,
Report to the bah Hoff at 11am for re-housing.
By order of Adolph Hitler.
I cried when I saw it. I didn't want to leave. But I didn't have a choice. So I quickly packed a few things, dresses mostly. I didn't bother with my old school uniform; I wouldn't wear it again would I? Father also instructed me to bring some of my books and anything valuable. We might need to sell it at a later date. I didn't have much worth selling though, just a couple of silver items and a gold locket with a picture of me and Edward inside.
I squeezed that locket for comfort. Edward. I had to see him. So without a word to either Renee or Charlie, I flew down the stairs and out of the front door.
"Edward, Edward, EDWARD" I shouted, hammering on the front door. It was quickly opened by a sullen faced Mrs Masen. I blushed, realising it was early and I had probably woken them up. I opened my mouth to talk, but she interrupted me. Her voice hard and uncaring.
"Edward is ill. He can't come out today." I was shocked; normally she would let me see him. But I'm a stubborn person so I tried again.
"Well, I need to see him. Its urgent." I tried my best to look pathetic, so she would feel bad. But her face was as stony as it was before.
"He's ill. Now leave." She said simply. Slamming the door in my face. A few tears rolled down my cheeks. I wasn't going to see him again. I sobbed for a few seconds more, before turning round and walking back to my own home.
Just as I reached my front door a new plan formed in my head. There was an apple tree in out back garden that reached over to just outside Edwards's window. I had promised him that I would never climb it, I'm a clumsy person and would more likely fall out of it that reach the top, but this was special circumstances. So before I knew It my feet were carrying me through the house and out to the garden. The tree itself was a lot bigger than I remembered it. And there were no low down branches to hoist myself up on. That was never a problem for him, but I'm smaller and I can't lift my own weight so I knew I needed some sort of help.
I turned on my heel, and ran back into the kitchen. Skidding to a stop when I noticed my old high chair in the corner. That would be perfect. So I picked it up and carried it out into the back garden, placing it strategically under the lowest branch.
It took me several attempts to actually hoist myself up onto the chair, and when I managed to get up onto it and standing up as well, it wobbled a lot.
But this was no time for worrying about silly little things like that. I have to get to that window. So I took a chance and launched myself at the closest branch. Grabbing onto it with all my might and pulling myself up onto it.
I've never really been afraid of heights, but when you've climbed two floors up a tree, and aren't good at balancing. Well it's a worry. So I held onto each branch as if my life depended on it, and to be honest it probably did.
When I did finally get to Edwards window the curtains were shut. I sighed in frustration, this was just going to make it more difficult to attract Edwards attention without his mother hearing.
"Edward?" I said cautiously, whilst tapping his window lightly. Nothing. I groaned before trying again, slightly louder. "Edward!" This time he replied. His curtains flew open and his slightly startled face met my sight. I sighed in relief.
"Edward. I'm being moved! Open the window!" I shouted, franticly waving my arms. He tilted his head to the side and his eyebrows furrowed together. It took me less than a second to realise that he couldn't hear me through the window. So I tried again, this time instead of speaking just simply waving my arms around and mouthing the words with as much expression as I could.
"IM – MO-VING-HOUSE!" Yet again his eyes furrowed together. I groaned in exasperation. This could not be happening. I then got a stroke of inspiration, which to be honest was kind of ridicules that I didn't think of it before, but maybe I should get him to open his window?
I indicated for him to do so, but before he had chance, his mother entered the room. And as soon as she saw me her face turned to rage. "WHAT IS SHE DOING OUTSIDE YOUR WINDOW? I DON'T WANT YOU TALKING TO HER AGAIN!" I heard his mother squawk. The curtains shut and she kept shouting. What had happened to make her hate me over night? I just couldn't see it.
"Bella? Bella!" My mother shouted from the back door. "Hurry up. We have to be there in an hour!" I groaned, and started my decent down the tree. I didn't bother hanging onto the braches like earlier. As far as I could see there was no point to life.
"Bella. Wipe your face and get your things. We're leaving." She said, before turning and walking back into the house. I wiped my cheeks and realised I was crying. As soon as I felt the water on my hand I broke down. Loud sobs echoed from my chest and the cries rasped against my throat.
"Bella! Come on!" I jumped at the sound of my mothers voice. Quickly I composed myself, wiping the few remaining tears from my eyes.
"I'm on my way." It surprised me how rough my voice was. But I ignored it and ran to my room. My case sat on my bed, I didn't take long. I didn't want to stay any longer than I had to. I didn't think I could take it. I did however grab an old photo album, mostly me and Edward. As most of my photo's were.
"Bella! Come On!" Renee called again. I wiped my eyes, again, before taking one last look at my room and running out of the house.
***
"Telegram Mrs. Yes go to that train. Leave your baggage here and any valuables." A man in a brown suit barked at us. I quickly dropped my case and tucked my locket into my dress. Hoping nobody would notice it. I knew from my own common sense that we would not be getting anything we gave them back.
"No! I will not give that to you. It's my wedding ring!" I turned to see my mother arguing with a tall man who was holding an offensive looking gun.
"Mum." I hissed "Just leave it." I tugged on her sleeve, at the same moment the man pulled out a revolver and jabbed it into my mothers chest.
"Still want to keep it. Huh?" My body stiffened as he pulled back the safety catch.
"Mum. Just give it to him. Please?" I pleaded, tugging on her arm. She quickly nodded and passed him the ring. The man gave her a smug look and tossed it into a cardboard box. Along with about a hundred others. It felt so disrespectful.
"Come on honey. The trains just down here. We need to get a nice seat." Renee whispered in my ear, whilst giving the man evil stares. I nodded, hesitantly walking towards the nearest platform. But when the three of us did arrive we all stopped in our tracks.
"It's a cattle train!" Charlie exclaimed in outrage. And indeed it was, no seats just room for us to stand up. And that's exactly what people were doing, around 50 people in one little carriage.
"Move along. Come on. In there now!" Another brown suited man barked at us, pushing my mother forward. We reluctantly walked forward, squeezing in amongst the other bodies. The air stunk and I could feel other peoples sweat through my clothes.
Everyone was silent, all staring at their feet. I felt strangely awkward, there was some kind of emotion in the air that I couldn't quite describe. It made me feel slightly ill.
The quiet hush, however was interrupted by a shrill voice.
"IM NOT GOING IN THERE! THIS IS NEW. I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE NEAR THAT… THAT… THING!" Everyone looked over to the source of the commotion. A tall blonde girl was arguing with the brown suit man, who would have obviously normally physically moved her, if it wasn't for the large muscular man who was standing by her side.
"Rosalie. Sweetheart. Just go." The big man muttered just loud enough for me to hear. I took them both in properly. They both looked around 18, give or take a few years. The girl was beautiful, beyond beautiful, her skin was almost as pale as mine and her hair glowed in the sun. Her movements were extraordinarily graceful, and there was something about her that seamed to scream that she had a fiery personality.
The man couldn't have been more different. He was brawny, with muscles that showed even through his thick jumper. His hair was brown and curly, and he had dimples. There was something else about him, although his appearance was intimidating, from the way he was standing you could tell he was a great softy when you got to know him.
"Emmet! I don't want to get on that train. It's disgusting. All dirty and stuff." She hissed, indicating us. I felt more dirty than I did before, I shifted uncomfortably and started to move towards the train door to escape.
"Bella. Don't you dare." My mother whispered, pulling me back. I shot her a disgusted look but stood back into ranks. Too nervous to rebel too far.
I watched on as the three argued some more, until eventually the girl, Rosalie, gave in and entered the train.
As soon as she joined us the doors were shut and we were left with only a few windows to give us light. Even thought I'm not generally a claustrophobic, I felt sick. There was no room to move, and the air was hot and sweaty.
The couple from the argument were right next to us, muttering darkly under her breath. I leaned against the edge of the train, turning my head so I could look out of my window. I carefully took in my last view of my hometown, Mainz, biting my lip to hold back tears. I was going to leave everything behind. My home, my family, my friends. Those thoughts brought tears to my eyes, and another time that day I began to sob. The train began to move and I looked around. I was no longer the only one crying. Several people, my mother included, had tears rolling down their cheeks. I noticed that the girl next to me was also no longer muttering under her breath. Everyone was sharing the last minute of regret and loss, before we arrived at wherever we were being taken.