Max Vandenberg sluggishly got out of bed careful to not wake his sleeping love beside him. He would wake her up in an hour like they agreed so they could spend the day dusting and polishing furniture and scrubbing the rugs.
He planted a soft kiss upon her cheek smiling sweetly as she nuzzled in to the pillow, then headed downstairs to the kitchen to make them breakfast.
As usual, he turned on the radio to hear the morning news, smiling as an old jazz song played and began to cut slices of bread from the last fresh loaf they had.
Before Frau Hermann left she made sure to stock the kitchen for them as it was unknown when it would be safe for them to go to a shop. They heavily relied on Max's vegetable patch to keep them going.
As he buttered the toast a news bulletin interrupted him and he placed the knife down to turn the volume up.
He held his breath whilst his heart fluttered, the news reporter spoke quite hurriedly and stuttered, having to begin again. The words floated in to Max's ears. He couldn't quite believe it, couldn't believe if he had just heard the wondrous news or if his ears were playing tricks on him, maybe he was still half asleep and was dreaming.
The news reporter repeated it again, and again two more times to make sure his audience understood the joyous news.
"Adolph Hitler is dead and German forces are withdrawing as Britain moves in to take control, the war is over!"
Another voice came on the air and a cheerful discussion broke out with laughter and disbelief but Max didn't hear a word of it as he sprinted the halls and back up the stairs to their bedroom. He burst through the door shouting Liesel's name over and over until she woke frantically in fright thinking they had been found.
"Max? W-what's wrong? Are they here?" She threw the duvet off her rushing to get out but Max leapt on the bed and took her face in his hands. His grinning expression confused her, especially when he gave her the longest kiss ever.
"Max." She breathed. "What on earth is wrong?"
"Nothing. Nothing is wrong. Nothing will ever be wrong again." He kissed her again, inhaling her sweet fragrance as his hand wrapped in her hair.
"Liesel, the war is over. Hitler is dead." For five seconds everything was quiet. Neither of them breathed as they processed the information, Max still in disbelief as he spoke the words aloud for the first time.
"Please tell me you aren't joking." Tears formed in her eyes and her lip quivered, she clutched tightly to his hands that held her face.
"We are free. We are free." He began to choke up too, feeling the relief of four years of agony and torture lift off him.
Liesel gave out a strangled cry as she flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her head in his chest, sobbing uncontrollably with broken laughs. He clutched her for dear life as if he never wanted to let her go again. They had come so far, survived so much and here they were in each other's arms safe and sound.
"Are you sure?" She pulled away and sniffled. "Is it really over?"
"Yes, it's all over the radio. Come on listen for yourself." He pulled her out of bed and they ran down to the end of the hall where there was a radio by the window seat that Isla used to listen to as she sat and viewed the scenic fields out the window.
The radio played the same bulletin Max had heard like it was stuck on repeat in case someone would miss it.
"This is really happening? This is the best news! Come on we must celebrate!" She ran to the room and washed her face and brushed her teeth at a record speed, throwing on the nearest item of clothing that was a yellow dress, quickly brushing her hair, shoving her feet in to her shoes and tossing Max his shirt and shoes.
He was right behind her getting washed and dressed, just about putting a comb through his hair when he was pulled out the room by the bottom of his shirt.
"Where are we going?"
"To the town!" Max stopped in his tracks. It had been three years since he had been around more than three people at a time.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I understand if it's too soon for you. We can celebrate in the garden-"
"No, it's fine. It was just a surprise, it's been years…" She reached up to touch the crease between his eyes and he instantly relaxed.
"I promise not to let go of you." He felt his hand take hers and squeeze it, knowing that as long as he had her he would feel safe. And now that there was no threat to Jews he could freely go as he pleased.
Outside they began the trek to the main road then in to town. Liesel spun in her dress, skipping and twirling and giggling like a girl of sixteen while Max followed like a love sick puppy, feeling blessed to be taking these steps but also anxious to reach fellow celebrators.
They could hear the celebrations before they could see them. A car came along the road tooting its horn excitedly, they could hear whistles and horns and even drums as they approached the first house of the town. There were children running in all directions shouting that the war was over, men stumbling out of bars handing out beer to passers-by and the women happily drinking it.
Liesel held on to Max strongly, delighted that he was laughing along with the town's folk, shaking hands and kissing cheeks as they walked through the crowds. Someone handed him a half-empty bottle of something dark and feeling the buzz of the atmosphere he gulped some back, scrunching his face as the liquid burnt his chest.
Liesel laughed loudly and drank some herself, also having the same reaction and Max laughed back at her. They weaved through the dancing parades and made it to the other end where they stopped to look back on what they just accomplished.
"How do you feel?" Her cheeks were flushed under the heavy sun with a hint of sunburn on her nose. Max brushed her blonde curls behind her ears as the breeze whipped them in all directions.
"Like I am walking on air." He looked all around him to soak in every last detail he could lay his eyes on like this was all a big dream that he would wake up from at any time.
A full day of celebrations continued in to the night yet people were still not ready to go home. The sun splashed its vibrant colours across the sky as it descended below the horizon, forcing people to bring out their candles that had been banned for so long. They could finally create as much light as they wanted so that's what they done. People raced to light up the street lamps before grabbing any unwanted house items to throw on the big fire in the middle of the town square.
Its flames rose high in the sky, radiating warmth to all the bystanders who danced and cheered around it. Where once the fires stood for the death of words they were now helping people rejoice in their freedom.
Liesel leant into Max's chest and he rubbed her bare arms to keep her warm. All he could think of was how in love with her he was. When she pressed her body in to his it ignited a fire within and when her ocean deep eyes found his it was as if the rest of his life was laid out before him.
The fire glowed before Liesel's eyes, igniting a memory to the book burning all those years ago. She tried to block out the images of her papa as the memory tugged at her mind, it was almost like she could feel him standing beside her. She wrapped her arm tighter around Max to seek his comfort and make the painful memory go away.
They left a few minutes later after Liesel yawned, not wanting to overdo themselves. As they approached the main road a kind old man offered them a ride back to the house, he asked after Frau Hermann and wished them the best with life after war.
The following day dragged in to the mid-afternoon as they were both so exhausted. They sleepily lazed in bed, limbs tangled and hair strewn across faces with lips kissing away the creases on skin.
It wasn't until the evening sun cast a splash of red and yellow along the horizon that Liesel woke to find the bed was missing an occupant.
"Max?" She called in to the empty room.
There was no reply. But on the green cushioned chair next to the dresser was a red dress that was set out and on top of it was a note.
Put this on and meet me in the garden,
Max
A smile crept on her face but she was nothing but confused. Deciding to follow his orders she put on the dress and quickly brushed her hair. She stopped to admire her reflection, noticing how the dress hung to her hips and her chest was now fuller, a sign that she was much healthier. Her porcelain skin had bronzed just the slightest over the past few weeks and after yesterday's outing it was now slightly reddened. She was the picture of perfect health and it was shown in her smile.
On approaching the door she paused as there was a single pink petal lying on the ground. She bent to pick it up, feeling the delicate softness between her fingertips before seeing another just over the threshold.
Her eyes followed the pink trail which she followed barefoot along the long hallway and down the wooden stairs to the back of the house where she came to the garden. The petals continued around the flower beds and to the lawn where the cherry blossom stood. This was where the petals had come from.
Under the tree, there lay a large blanket and upon the blanket was a spread of food, a bottle and two empty glasses surrounded by lit candles.
Liesel ran to the blanket and fell to her knees, laughing as she touched the champagne bottle and saw the strawberries by the side of it.
Breaking her glee she heard a rustle above her, the petals were now falling from the tree and floating down on her.
She looked up and peered through the shower of pink to see Max perched on a branch as he shook another.
"What are you doing?" She tried to stand up but he jumped down and placed a hand on her shoulder to push her back.
"The war is over, I think we deserve a moment."
"This is more than a moment." She pulled at her dress to remind him of the extravagance, at the same time he popped the champagne open and poured two glasses.
"You make any angel look like a beast with that dress on. Well, you always do but right now you look like a Queen." Liesel swooned, feeling slightly light headed as she took a sip of the bubbly liquid. She was never going to get used to Max's compliments.
"Where did you find this?"
"It was in the wardrobe Frau Hermann put together for you."
She took this moment to look at what Max was wearing. He had on a new white shirt and black trousers, his shoes were shined and his hair slicked back neatly. He caught her staring and hid a smirk with his glass, waiting for her to finish her ogling.
When she averted her eyes to a plump, red strawberry he then took the moment to dig in his trousers pocket and pull out a small, velvet box.
His palms were sweating as he fumbled with the box in his hands and quickly stealing glances at Liesel to make sure she wasn't looking up yet.
She placed a third strawberry in to her mouth before looking around at the floral garden with a new outlook on life. She wanted the place filled with people from all over. She wanted garden parties and tea on the patio with guests. She wanted children to fill up every nook and cranny of the garden during their adventures. She wanted a house full of love and life.
"Can I have your attention for a moment?"
"Hmm?" She turned her head back to see Max reaching for her hands. She willingly placed them in his and waited for whatever he wanted to ask her.
"Do you love me, Liesel?"
"More than anything. Max, why do you ask? You already know that." Pleased with her instant response he breathed deeply and pulled out the box from behind him.
"I love you more than anything in this world. Liesel, will you marry me?"
"Max… yes! Of course I will!" Liesel threw herself on top of Max and sent him falling back to the ground. She kissed him eagerly and peppered his face with chaste pecks as he laughed beneath her.
"You haven't even seen the ring yet." He cried from under her lips.
"I don't need to. Oh, Max. You really want to marry me?"
"I've never been so sure about anything in my life. I want to spend the rest of our hopefully long lives together and spend every day repaying you for keeping me alive."
Her eyes like saucers bounced all over his face as she couldn't contain her excitement. They followed his hands as he opened the box to reveal a gold banded ring with a single red jewel, it sparkled in the sunlight.
"Where did you get this?" She breathed admiringly at the glorious token before her.
"It was my grandmothers. It was part of the little possessions I had that I couldn't bear to part with." He took the ring out of the box and took her slender hand in his, slipping the ring on her wedding finger.
Liesel felt as if she were floating, her entire body was swept off her feet as Max spun her around again and again. He caught her as she side-stepped dizzily, dipping his head to the crook of her neck to kiss her soft skin.
"So what do you say? A Spring wedding?"
She answered with a heavy kiss on his mouth making him stumble backwards, unable to tame the smile and shaking excitement in her body at the thought of the rest of their lives together.
Thank you guys for your amazing reviews! I've come to the end with this story now I hope you all like it. Thank you so much :) xxxx