27th February 1942

Elizabeth sat on a log in the forest and breathed quickly and heavily; her eyes wide and red. She had another panic attack, caused by the images in her head.

Five days... Five days had passed since Elizabeth failed in her biggest task so far and since she had to draw two more lines on the last page of her book.

She was supposed to save two people from execution, but when she got there it was too late. All she saw was the guillotine that fell was a sight that Elizabeth would never forget. It was just awful!

Lizzy tried to distract herself somehow. She thought of Mary, Bert and also Hans and Martha. The latter were incredibly hospitable to her and even looked after her warmly on the day of her departure.
The two of them, just like herself, just wanted peace and the miserable war to be over. They also wanted their parents back, but this was impossible.

The three got along well. Actually very well. Hans was only six months older than Elizabeth, but still he looked younger. Better said: he looked young but had to behave like a thirty year old. When she left, Liz even promised that she would visit them again on her way back.

With trembling hands, the young woman reached into the inside pocket of her coat and pulled out three envelopes:
One for Bert, one for Mary and one for Hans and Martha. She had written all three letters today. The latter was probably full of misspellings.

"Time t' travel," she murmured, throwing the letters for the siblings and Mary up in the air, where they were caught by the wind and carried toward their destination.

She only burned Bert's in her hands.

She wistfully observes how the paper slowly grew blacker before it finally disappeared.

Elizabeth sat still for a moment before grabbing the necklace with her fingers and closing her eyes: "I 'ope you are well, Bert."

Bert sat on his camp bed and opened the letter he had just received.
With his elbows on his knees, he let his blue eyes wander over the beautifully written lines:

My dearest Bert,

I am extremely sorry that I haven't written many letters lately, but I simply cannot find the right words. I know this doesn't really suit my nature, but so much has happened.

It all started when I found out that Elizabeth and I are related. A lot has changed since then.

I am currently traveling from one family to the next and it is getting harder and harder. The losses that have to be processed by the children make my job as a nanny anything but easy.

I am also very concerned about Elizabeth. I haven't heard from her in a while and my feeling tells me she's not feeling well. I would be less worried if she worked in a hospital in London. But unfortunately she is meant for something else.

I'm also still trying to figure out in what way we are related to each other; but I have not yet come up with a common denominator in my research. Maybe we're just distant relatives. But my heart tells me otherwise.

But now I want to answer your letter directly:

I'm sorry to hear this bad news from Felix. But if it can save his life, an amputation would really be the best for him ...

I am relieved that you are coming back to England. Yes, it is dangerous everywhere, but then you will be back home and that gives me a feeling of security.

Even if you are certainly uncomfortable, I would like to congratulate you on your promotion.
I am sure that you will be a very good and, above all, understanding sergeant for your section!

I miss you too, Bert. Not a day goes by when I don't think of you!

Your last letter touched me very much and I also wish that I could hug you, kiss you and say "I love you" personally.

The family I am with is getting better; I notice that the wind is slowly changing again. And it seems to me that this time it's going to a more distant region.

As mentioned above, I haven't heard anything new from Elizabeth. But as soon as this changes, I will let you know immediately!

But at the end I have something heartwarming:
Uncle Albert last tidied up his attic and found something that you will surely like: a photo of us three from 1922.

I hope that this photo will cheer you up a bit during these dreary days and put a warm smile on your lips.

I love you,

Mary

Bert finished reading the letter before taking the photo out of the envelope and examining it:
As already mentioned, it showed him, Mary and Albert. Bert had put his hand on Mary's waist and looked at her lovingly.

He had to smile when he thought about that day: this very photo was taken by mistake or a test photo. The actual photo that hung in Uncle Albert's living room was the right one. There he didn't have his hand on her waist and he looked straight into the camera.

1922, a year in which Mary and Bert were unbelievably close. As close as never before.
But everything changed when the wind brought her to another country and they only met again at the Millers' funeral.

He eyed Mary first, then Albert, and finally himself. In the photo, he was very thin, had slightly wavy hair that covered his ears a bit, bright eyes, and soft facial features.

His eyes fell on the mirror that was on the opposite wall. He got up and eyed his reflection: he was a lot more muscular than he was then, his facial featured were not as soft as back then, and he had recently been growing a moustache.
But what worried him the most was what his gaze did. This was no longer as bright as it was then- it was cold now.

He leaned forward so he could see his eyes better when the flame of the candle next to the camp bed flared dangerously. Bert knew exactly what that meant, so he literally ran to the candle.
It wasn't a second before an envelope shot out of the little flame.

The sergeant caught the envelope impatiently and tore it open.

Hello Bert,

I'm sorry it took half an eternity for me to finally answer you.

But I had my reasons... Really!

To be honest, I don't want to write too much, because I'm not feeling very well at the moment. Psychologically, of course. But I don't want to talk about it. At least not yet.

I just wanted to write again so you know I'm still alive so you don't worry too much.

How are you?

I will try to answer your letter as soon as possible! I promise to you!

Take care of yourself,

Lizzy

Bert's throat tightened when he read that Lizzy was not feeling well.
He would like to go out now, look for her and then try to help her.

But he also knew that this would not work. So he just picked up pen and paper and started writing the answers to Elizabeth and Mary.

Heyho :D

I hope you're fine! :)

I'm really looking forward to the next chapter and especially your reactions to it :D I'm trying to finish it by Sunday :3

Small preview: there will be a reunion of two characters ;D