Letters from the Past

Chapter 2: Where are you now?

"Vati, you said you had something to give me in the letter, what is it?"

"Not right now..."

Germain Beilschmidt was an imposing figure, shoulder length platinum hair, a tall stature and a steel gaze that could probably level mountains if he set his mind to it. He was even more imposing when he was suffering a hangover and was in no mood to entertain anyone. However, Ludwig Beilschmidt wasn't made First Sergeant for nothing and had little trouble matching his father's intensity.

"Please Vati, if it is something from my past, I need to know."

Turning over to face away from the newly opened window, Germain groaned, "It's a bundle of returned letters. They're in the right drawer of the desk in the study. I didn't give them to you sooner as you were still focusing on your training. Didn't want to distract you. I took the liberty of arranging them by date, and I noticed they were all addressed to ... F.Vargas? I don't know who that is... I hope you have a good reason to disturb me this early..."

"Danke. And it's three in the afternoon if you have to know. Rest well, I shall take my leave."

———

His first returned letter dated back to the spring of 4020, the last in summer this year. Ludwig opened the earliest one, written in his neat precise handwriting:

Mein Liebe,

How are you? I got your last letter, congratulations on topping your class! I am so proud of you, but I am terribly sorry to have to tell you that I cannot be there to watch you graduate from business school. I still remember that day you graduated from compulsory education just two years ago and got accepted into the most prestigious school in Octrurion. You just looked so happy that I could barely tell whether you were going to scream or burst into tears!

I'm so lucky to have been able to catch it before the send-off. I would love to see how much you have changed since then. I miss you terribly; there's not a day that goes by without you in my mind. Regrettably, I have emergency drill exercises to do next week, and you know how important those days are... I can only send my well-wishes and love. I wish you success and happiness in your journey, and I promise to find you once I'm out of camp.

(I know I seldom say this) Ich liebe dich

Yours forever,

Ludwig

Tears prickled at the corners of his eyes as he finished reading the letter. This letter containing all his heartfelt wishes and blessings had never reached the recipient, and she had to go through a whole graduation not knowing why her love was not there. Oh Gott, the poor child. His chest ached with heartbreak for the mysterious girl, who had to endure such rejection on one of the most important days in her life.

He went through the rest of his letters, all adorned with a "Return to sender" stamp. It was there that he relived in a tidal wave all the hurt and pain of rejection for the past two years, buried under the haze of amnesia, yet as fresh and raw as if it were yesterday. His letters to 'F. Vargas' changed from excitement at a promotion, to gentle prompting about her life, frustration at the lack of reply, deep hurt and disappointment at a speculated new lover, and finally to a desperate cry for a word, a sign, before the letters ceased altogether, in the summer of 4022.

Why didn't she reply? Could she have given up on me? I should just move on... No! What am I thinking? I have to find her and set things straight! But, how am I going to do that? She is still waiting, I know it!

"Kesese, West! Whatcha got there?"

"A brief history of my miserably short and currently non-existent love life."