The Boy in the Basement

Chapter 25

Liesel and I walked slowly to the train station. My heart was beating fast the whole time; a constant thumping in my chest. I was surprised no one else heard it. We were going to the train station because Stefan and Father were going to war. Both were fighting, and didn't know when they were coming back. I had decided to tell mama and Papa about them for the first time. Papa reacted as I expected him to; he was gentle and understanding Surprisingly, Mama reacted the opposite I thought she would. She was a bit upset I never told her sooner, but overall she was very understanding of it, too. So Liesel and I went on our way so that I could say one last goodbye. It was going to be hard to part from them for so long, but I had a feeling they would come back.

"Adeline, are you ok?" Liesel asked.

"I'm alright." I replied, and smiled to reassure her. "I'm just going to miss Stefan and Father. But I'll be fine."

"I know." She was silent for a moment. "Do you ever regret being adopted by Mama and Papa?"

"Not at all... why do you ask?"

"Well, now that you know your father and brother are alive... don't you ever wish you could have stayed with them?"

"I mean, yes, I always have wished I could be with them. My father, at least. He's my family. But so are Mama and Papa. And I think they provided for me better than my father could have when I was a kid. Besides, if I hadn't come here, I wouldn't have Cora as my best friend, I wouldn't have the best little sister in the world, and I wouldn't have met Max. So I have no regrets that I came here."

"You're the best sister, too." Liesel took my hand and squeezed it tightly. "I'm glad you cam to Mama and Papa's, too. Because you're the best big sister I could ever have." Her comment made me feel a little bit better.

We made it to the station by noon - the train was leaving any minute. The platform was packed with soldiers and their families wives, sisters, parents, and even some kids. All types of people were saying goodbye to loved ones. It took them a while, but I spotted my brother and father not too far away, talking to each other. As soon as they spotted me, they walked over, and my brother hugged me tightly. 

"I don't want to go." He said.

"I know you don't. But everything will be alright." I said, although I was having my own doubts. Not many people came back from war, and those who did never came back normal. But I would be happy if they came home at all. I just wanted my family to stay together.

Stefan hugged me a bit longer, and then pulled away, only to be replaced by my father. "Stay safe." I said softly. I couldn't help but let a few tears out. But I had to stay strong. "Come back home soon."

"I will." He said. He lingered on the hug a bit longer, pulled away and looked at Liesel. "I'm assuming you're Liesel?" She nodded. "Take care of your sister, will you? She needs you."

Liesel smiled. "Of course I will." She took my hand again and held it tightly. The train let out a long whistle, and both father and Stefan turned around.

"We ought to get going." Said Stefan softly. We stood there in a moment of silence.

"Come back soon." They both nodded and then got on the train. Liesel and I both watched as the train slowly pulled away, and once again I lost my father. Right when I thought I had my real family back, they were gone again, and there was nothing I could do about it. Suddenly I just wanted to get away, to go back home and not think about this. So I began walking back in the direction of home, so fast Liesel had to jog to keep up.

"Adeline, do you want to talk about it? I know how it feels to lose your family like that, I understand..."

"But you don't understand, do you?" I snapped. As much as I loved her, Liesel was really getting on my nerves at the moment.