Beyond Graceland's Gates

Chapter 7 - An Unexpected Letter

Life had fallen into a comfortable rhythm when the unexpected letter arrived. It was a quiet afternoon in early 1958, and I was sitting at the kitchen table with my mother, both of us going over the day's events. The smell of her fresh apple pie filled the house, and for once, everything felt calm. I didn't realize how much I had needed the break from the hustle of the hospital until I found myself home, enjoying the simplicity of the moment.

"Victoria," my mother called from the doorway, holding up a letter with my name on it. She studied it with a frown. "It's from the military."

I furrowed my brow, wiping my hands on my apron as I walked over to take the letter. "What would they want with me?" I asked, more to myself than to her.

My father, sitting in his chair by the window, glanced up from the newspaper. "Open it and find out," he said calmly, though his eyes betrayed a hint of concern.

I tore open the envelope and began reading. The further I got into the letter, the more my heart began to race. "It says I've been conscripted," I whispered, my voice shaky. "They need medical personnel in Germany."

My mother's eyes widened, and she stepped closer to peer at the letter. "Germany? They can't be serious, can they?"

"They are." My voice was barely a whisper now as the weight of the news sank in. Germany. I had never imagined leaving Memphis, let alone traveling across the ocean to serve in the military. The thought of being so far from home made my stomach churn.

"Well," my father said, his voice steady but quiet, "it looks like they've chosen you for a reason. You've got the skills they need, Victoria. But this is... quite the responsibility."

I nodded, trying to keep my hands from shaking. "But Germany, Dad. I've never been so far from home before."

"Don't think about the distance," he advised, folding his newspaper and setting it aside. "Think about the work you've done and the good you'll do there. It'll be hard, sure, but you've never been one to shy away from a challenge."

My mother's hand found mine, squeezing it gently. "You're right, James. She's always been strong," she said, though I could hear the tremor in her voice. "But Germany feels like a whole different world."

That night, I sat in my room staring at the letter, the words blurring together as my mind raced. The reality of leaving everything behind, leaving my family, my life in Memphis, was overwhelming. My mother knocked on the door softly before entering, holding a small box in her hands.

"I wanted to give you something," she said, sitting beside me on the bed. She opened the box to reveal a delicate silver locket, its surface slightly worn with age. "It was my mother's, and she gave it to me when I was younger. I want you to take it with you. Keep it close, and keep your heart safe."

I stared at the locket for a moment before gently taking it from her hands. "I don't know what to say," I whispered, my eyes filling with tears.

"You don't have to say anything," she said softly, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "Just promise me you'll be careful. I couldn't bear it if something happened to you."

I nodded, the weight of the locket heavy in my hand, the weight of her words even heavier on my heart. "I'll come back. I promise."

---

The morning of my departure arrived far too quickly. My father helped me load my suitcase into the car while my mother stood nearby, clutching a handkerchief.

"I'm going to miss you, you know," Clara said, her voice cracking slightly.

"I'll miss you too," I said. "But I'll write, okay? You'll barely even notice I'm gone."