withstanding the war. ➳ au styles. [on hold; indefinitely] [in editing]

Chapter Five.

Marilyn’s POV

Three days after meeting Josh, I received Harry’s letter. When I saw his handwriting on the envelope, tears immediately started to collect in my eyes. I slid down the wall, with the letter in one hand and my other hand going to my mouth to capture my sobs. I just stared at envelope that was no longer pure white. Being handled across the countries had left the envelope with dirt stains and to be crinkled. But none of that mattered, it could have been ripped to pieces, I would still put it back together to read it.

Tears had been making pathways down my cheeks, but for some reason, I still could not find it in myself to open the letter. Maybe it was because I wanted to keep Harry preserved in this little envelope, almost like he was living in it. If I kept his letter safe within the envelope, then I would be able to protect him in the real world. But once that thought came to mind, I let out a laugh. My imagination always got the best of me.

With shaky hands, trembling lips, and blurry vision, I tore my nail across the top of the envelope. When I was finished, my finger was covered in a thin layer of dirt and grime. I quickly wiped it on to my dress, paying no mind to if any fingerprint trails were left. I pulled the letter out of the envelope and unfolded the piece of paper. It was smaller than what I would have hoped he would send me and only took a side and a half. Maybe I was hoping he would write more about his undying love for me, but I reassured myself that he was just tired.

My suspicions were correct as my watery eyes scanned over the slightly messy, but still perfect handwriting of my fiancé. He had me giggling a few times, but a smile was always adorned my lips while reading that letter. But once his handwriting no longer caressed the paper, my thoughts were left to wander. Mostly about those dog tags and the reason why there were two. He promised that he would come back to me alive, and he had never broken a promise before. I just hoped he would be able to keep this one too because it was not like Harry could decide when death came for him.

I decided I needed to call Josh with all these thoughts swirling in my head. I wondered if he thought about his girlfriend not coming home to him as well. Indeed she was safer, being at a camp than the front lines, but it was still a thought that could pass his mind.

It only seemed like a couple seconds after I dialed his number that he picked up with a cheery hello.

“Hi Josh, it’s Marilyn.” I said, hoping he would remember me.

“Oh hey, yeah, what’s up?” He said.

“Well I was wondering if you wanted to come over. I mean if you have plans or something that is fine, but I was just wondering.” I said, the words bumping into each other as they stumbled off my lips. I heard a light chuckle on the other end of the line and even though he couldn’t see me, my cheeks still turned a bright pink.

“Yeah, Mar. I’ll be over soon.” He said, and I could tell he was wearing a smile while he hung up.

I was glad Josh was coming over because I had someone I could relate to, hopefully. But at the same time, with no one to talk to while Josh was on his way over, my thoughts were left to wander. And I knew they would wander while Josh was here, but at least I would be able to have someone who understood the mind games the war played on you.

My imagination started to think of all the horrid ways Harry could die, from something quick and painless, to something that would torture him. I also wondered what would happen to him if the enemy captured him. No doubt that they would not be the best hosts, but I hoped they would not torture him or keep him prisoner for long. He may have meant the world to me, but he meant nothing to the British army and I was sure they would not do anything to get him back.