A girl and her camera

Chapter twelve

Sorry, took longer than normal to update this time. Pic above is of Gary Cooper, another silver-screen star,  who I've pictured to play Michael. I loved that movie 'A farewell to the arms', and I just couldn't help it. Enjoy!

Saying goodbye could be difficult. Whether it be seeing your child leave home for the first time, knowing that a dear friend was moving away to another country, or holding the hand of a beloved grandparent, during their last moments on earth. Being the one to say, or bid farewell, was painful. And although Martha had said goodbye before; those times never really counted. When her father died, Martha was too young to really know what she was letting go of. And when Samuel left, she didn't know she was going to be losing him for ten years. But right now, as her brother prepared to farewell his family, Martha began to feel the pain of saying her first goodbye.

Everything was set for Michael. His bags were packed, thoroughly under the supervision of an over-bearing Vera. His room was tidied out, ready for Martha to move into whilst Michael wasn't occupying it. And a car from the head-quarters was being sent, to pick him up. Now all Michael needed to do was wait, anxiously, while he enjoyed a final cup of tea with his family.

"Now, are you sure you have enough underwear?" Vera asked, for the untempt time. "Because I can always send you more-"

"Mama, I'm fine for underwear." Michael assured her, chuckling. "I'm just a little...anxious, that's all."

"Well, it's alright to be anxious." She said, "Just remember the kind of man I raised you to be. And don't you let those bastards turn you into something you're not."

"Mama!" Michael was taken aback at her swearing.

"Oh, don't 'mama' me. I'm a grown woman; I can swear if I want to."

"I know, I just..." Vera seemed to understand what he couldn't tell her aloud.

Sitting down beside him, Vera put her arms around her son in a much-needed, motherly embrace. Michael leant into her warm touch; reveling in the safe, assuring feeling that only a mother could give. He knew that he wasn't going to have this kind of affection for a long time; and since he couldn't expect it from the kind of place he was going, he made the most of his mother's love, while he could.

"It'll be okay, darling," Vera soothed him, cradling his head to her shoulder. "Now, you've got to be strong. Be my strong man; can you do that?"

Michael didn't say anything, but nodded gently, and let out a series of shaky breaths. And all the while, Martha sat there, watching them. She didn't nessicary feel left out; only perplexed, at seeing the mother and son embrace, as they had only years and years ago. But it was touching, nonetheless. Sweet.

"Mara," He pulled away from Vera, taking Martha's hand from across the coffee table. "You'll write to me, won't you? But be careful what you say. They read through every letter that comes in."

"Of course," Martha hadn't hesitated for a moment. "Don't worry about me Michael; I'm almost a grownup already."

Sighing, Michael pulled his sister in for one last, brotherly hug. Holding his sister like that, took him back to their bright, black and white childhood. Where he would hold her hand wherever they went; guarding her, protecting her, being the best big-brother he could possibly be. It was when Martha was younger; naive, and innocent of the terrors that surrounded their world. And Michael was only just on the verge of growing up. He was just learning of the bad things in the world, but he wished so desperately, that he could be young again, like Martha. Then, returning to now, he was devastated to know that even little Mara wasn't a child anymore. She was no longer blind to the world; just as she should've been.