Hoping that the bedroom she shared with Erin would be unoccupied, Elizabeth hurried into the house with the letter. To her relief, it was. She sat on the edge of the bed and eagerly tore the envelope open.

Dear Elizabeth,

Finally I am settled and have time to write to you. The place where I'm staying is a former hospital that was converted into a prison camp. Except for meals and half an hour a day for exercise, my entire life is spent in a tiny cell with a cot which has an upper and lower bunk. I also have a roommate. His name is Ernest, and he's a few years older than me. He's married and has three children. He's lying in the upper bunk writing a letter to his wife as I write to you.

I suppose I should consider myself fortunate in that I don't also have a wife and children to be separated from, but all I can think about is that right now my father would be sitting in his easy chair reading while my mother would be clearing away the dinner dishes and my little brother Mathias would be playing. If I were there, I'd probably be outside doing chores.

It's funny how you never really notice how much your family means to you until you can't be with them anymore. In the little bit of time I spent with your family, I could tell that you all love each other very much. It's the same way with my own family. I hope that you can always be together.

Well, I guess that's it for now. Please take care and give your family my greetings.

Warmest regards,

Paul Brimmer

As she read the letter, Elizabeth felt terribly sad for Paul. She couldn't imagine what it would be like to be completely separated from everyone she loved. Whatever wrong he'd done, was it deserving of such punishment?

She wrote back to him right after dinner that night.

Dear Paul,

I was very happy to get your letter. Things are pretty much back to normal around here. My brothers are back fighting in the war, and Erin and I are back in school. I have a new teacher named Miss Lamphere. I like her a lot, but I recently learned that she's very ill and may not have much longer to live.

On a happier note, I'm an aunt again now. Ben and Cindy's little girl was born just a few weeks ago. Her name's Virginia, and she's so sweet! She has big blue eyes and a tiny tuft of red hair on top of her head.

John Curtis is getting bigger every day. He's into everything, but he's a happy little boy. He's too young to remember his father, of course.

Your letter made me feel very sad. I can tell how lonely you are and how much you miss your family. I hope that the war ends soon and you can go back to them. In the meantime, remember that God is always there.

Please take care and write whenever you can.

Your friend,

Elizabeth Walton

She took the letter to the post office the next day and mailed it, hoping that Paul would be happy to get it and that it would make him feel less lonely.