Dun dun dunn! Final chapter!

Thank you all so much for your reviews and feedback. I loved writing this story, but I loved the reactions from y'all the most! Hugs and peanut butter cookies (Matt Doyle's favorite ;D) all around!!

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"Anna! Thea! Wait for me!" I run to where the girls are walking, a short distance ahead. I'm all smiles as I approach.

"Hello, how are you?" I ask them.

Thea looks up at me with tears in her eyes. "Oh, Ernst!" She wraps her tiny arms around me and I look at Anna, who is just as grief-stricken, for an explanation.

"What's happened?

"We've just heard from Martha," she replies, biting her lip to keep from crying. Despite her best efforts, her voice shakes. "They found M-Moritz in the woods last night. He's… dead."

"D-dead?" My heart sinks. Poor Moritz! He was so kind. I wonder how Melchior must be feeling. I hold my arm out to Anna, and the three of us stand together, crying.

A few months later, I'm sitting with Otto and Georg outside of the school. Melchior has been expelled. I miss him terribly. He was such a good friend to me, and I felt as if I could tell him anything.

"Of course the adults try their best to hide it," Georg was saying, "but we all know where Melchior went… And why." He snickered, and Otto joined him, but I fail to see what is so funny about the situation. Who knows what Melchior has to endure all because of a few pieces of paper? It isn't fair.

I decide to stop by the vineyard. I wave goodbye to Otto and Georg, who take little notice. I find the same spot where Hanschen and I had spent the afternoon together, all those months ago. I sit gazing out at the darkening sky. The church bells chime in the distance, and I smile.

"Those bells."

My head whips around, startled. Hanschen is standing right behind me, looking out at the sky as I had been. I wonder briefly how long he had been standing there.

"So… Peaceful."

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So yeah, that's it! Really short... What do you think, lame ending? I kind of think so… But I also think I'm a little too critical of my own writing. :P

I hope you enjoyed, and maybe I'll write another fic if I get a great idea. ;)