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

Chapter Eight.

Marilyn’s POV

After I was finished at the doctor’s office, I rushed home to see if a letter was waiting for me, covered in the dirt and filth I wished to become familiar with. But it was to my unfortunate disadvantage that nothing was there. I spent the rest of the day writing to Harry, never quite getting the letter to my satisfaction. I kept re-writing the words, none of them forming the correct sentences I thought would best suite the situations I was desperately trying to explain. I sighed in aggravation before giving up for the night. I had hoped his letter would bring some sort of encouragement for me to write the proper letter he deserved.

It took three days after my doctor’s appointment to receive his letter. My excitement was unable to stay within, the smile I wore should have been enough to separate my face in two.

My dearest Marilyn,

            I hope all is well at home and you are adjusting to life without me. To be honest with you darling, I have written this letter a thousand times over, none of them containing the proper words. They just seemed cold and flat and I was just not pleased with sending you a message that I did not miss you because that would be a lie. Every time I think of you, I think I am living someone else’s life and I am watching every thing from an outside perspective. And I kick myself because our life was just starting to form when I had to leave. But I want you to know, that I appreciate all your love and support, even with miles separating us.

            I know these tiny trinkets of words are all we have of each other, but I will cherish them until I am able to hold you in my arms again. The return address on this postage will be the address you can send to me, just remember to mark my name on top of it. I look forward to reading your delicate handwriting and everything that you have been up too. I will fill you in with my life as soon as I hear from you because I have not been able to know what has occurred to you in our month apart. But keep an eye on that horizon; I will be home soon enough. Just hang in there baby. I love you, forever.

With all my love,

Harry xx.

Even though the letter was short, it was still very dear. To know that he also had a difficult time combing the right letters to words eased my mind. I knew that neither of us wanted the communication to difficult, but we were both worried and confused, never mind wanting to find the right words to fit into the constellations of love and admiration. But when I had Harry’s letter next to me, the words seemed to flow effortlessly onto the paper. I just hoped Harry would take the news the letter contained with joy.

Harry’s POV

A week had passed since I last wrote to Marilyn and I had grown anxious on the arrival of her letter. I was excited because I would finally know how my baby was doing, but there was a small voice in the back of my head that would whisper thoughts of doubt. I would try to shake those whispers away, but the potential truth they held was too much for me. The small voice had planted a thought in my mind that the letter I would receive would hold her goodbye and if that were the case, I would just want to die on the battlefield.

The roar of men clapping and cheering brought me from my thoughts. I glanced around the tent we had set up and saw Niall smiling brightly. I turned my attention in the direction he was looking to see the mailman. I took a deep breath in and impatiently waited for my name to be called. I smiled a bit when Niall’s was called and he was shocked, but smiling even wider. He returned next to me after getting a small box. I watched him open it, noticing a few things that seemed like memories to him. The letter that came with the box was signed by his parents and I decided to leave him be.