Illuminate

Chapter 19

The train loaded up slowly, so I was stuck in the station for several minutes as the steady trickle of people thinned out. My seat was comfortable, though, and I planned on resting up just in case.

Someone cleared their throat, and I looked up to see a frazzled-looking woman holding a baby.

"Is it okay if I sit here?" she asked. I nodded. "My baby is colicky; are you all right if he cries?" she asked again.

I smiled. "No, it's completely fine. I love babies." It really wasn't a big deal. When I was younger, my mother would invite many other families over, some with babies and small children, so I was used to the sound of crying.

She looked relieved. "Bless you."

•••

As warned, the baby (whose name I found out was Alain) cried most of the way. I offered to hold him several times, and his mother thanked me profusely for a chance to nap.

Once she woke up, I asked her where she came from, and whose side she was on. She replied with the same vague "You may be able to answer those questions for yourself in a little time," and I smiled knowingly. "I just came from there."

She looked a little shocked. "How did you know-?"

"It's okay, your secret is safe with me," I replied. "Where are you going?"

"I'm originally French, so when the war started, I knew I had to find somewhere safer for Alain, who wasn't born yet. Also, my husband wanted us out of France for the bombings.

"So I somehow found out about the village there, and I passed the background check. I've just been there for the past year. Now my family wants me to go back to Normandy because they miss me."

I was a little curious still. I asked "Where is your husband?" in the gentlest tone I could muster.

She smileild happily, but her eyes were wistful. "He's fighting," she said simply.

I nodded. "You get back to sleep now."

She almost immediately fell back asleep. I bounced the baby, who had since stopped crying and looked up at me with his big blue eyes. I could see traces of another person in him, in his light blonde hair that fell feathery to his forehead and his smile.

I admit I felt a little jealous of the woman whose name I didn't know; she was in love with someone she could have hope of seeing again, she had this beautiful baby boy, and she had family who couldn't bear to be apart from her.

Looking down, I noticed Alain had fallen asleep, so I shifted him to a more comfortable position and did the same.

•••

The train whistle sounded, and I was jolted to a stop. I couldn't help but to imagine what happened, considering my experience with a train all those months ago.

It turned out we were just at the station, and the stop was sudden because of the novice driver.

I handed the baby back to his mother, said "I hope we meet again," and stood up to exit.

"Veya, wait," she called. I turned on surprise.

"I realize I never told you my name. I'm Fleur," she said. "Write me sometime." She pressed her address into my hand.

I took the slip and carefully placed it in my coat pocket, waved to Fleur and briskly walked away.

•••

I walked around the town for a while to get a feel for the area, but I still had no idea what town I was in, let alone what region of France this was. I'd attempted an inquiry at a small kiosk near the station, but it was deserted.

My weary feet led me to a bench, also deserted. I sank into the damp wood and sighed as I rubbed my temples.

My stupidity and sheer luck had gotten me this far to leave me now.

It seemed hopeless; I was the only person in sight among the ramshackle buildings boarded up for protection.

My suddenly weary body sank into one of the chipped, peeling benches. I shut my eyes and prepared for the worst: not making it home, being captured by Weiss, et cetera.

Realizing that those types of thoughts would get me nowhere, I shook them away and tried to focus.

I had an idea. Not to get home, but to do something to occupy my mind.

I pulled out Aya's letter and squinted at it. The writing hadn't become easier to read. Disgusted, I muttered an expletive under my breath. As I did, something visibly jolted beside me. I whipped my head to the side nearly fast enough to dislocate it.

"Excuse me, miss, didn't mean to startle you," the elderly man mysteriously sat beside me stated.

I was still recovering from my near heart attack, so I only nodded in response, but he'd already flipped open his newspaper and scanned it, his monocle clenched in his eye.

My heart started beating as I rifled through my valise to retrieve Aya's letter once again. I squinted at the tiny print another time, then looked at the man. An idea pinged in my head.

If the man had trouble seeing and had to use a monocle to magnify the writing, then a monocle could also magnify the letter.

Before I could react, I had already said, "Sir, may I borrow your eyeglass?" in my poorly accentuated French.

"Why, of course," he replied, setting down his paper and handing the glass to me.

I moved the paper closer to my face and peered through the monocle. Much better, I thought.

A few lines of immaculate handwriting came into view, and I still had to squint to read it. It was a wonder it wasn't all smudged.

It read:

Aya

Amsterdam

Tag number 12192

Do your best.

I frowned and stared at it for a few seconds. How did Aya expect me to help her if I couldn't understand what she meant?

It all still seemed hopeless.

•••

Hey everyone!
So I know it's been a while (so sorry for that), but I hope you enjoy this chapter! Don't forget to like and comment as well 😊

Nina 🌸