Helena Stark: A WWII Widow

chapter one: Rosemary

Noise filled the air as people explored the future. There wasn't much of a future for me to explore, seeing as how I had four-year-old tugging on my arm begging for me to buy her peanuts. The only thing I would be exploring right now, is just how quickly my daughter will be changing her mind on what she wants to eat. Just five minutes ago it was popcorn...

"Madre, I want peanuts!" Little Rosemary cried as she pointed at a stand.

I looked over and saw a gigantic line. "Alright, but you better not change your mind as soon as we get there."

"I promise I won't Madre, lo prometto." Rosemary said smiling innocently. I smiled at her as we got in line and slowly made our way to the front. "A bag of peanuts please," Rosemary asked sweetly to the lady selling the food, she smiled lovingly at her.

"Well, aren't you adorable!" She said, then she turned to me smiling, but then her smile slid off her face when she didn't see my husband with me. "That'll be five cents please." I smiled at her even though I could feel her silently judging me for not having a wedding band.

Howard asked me to stop wearing it, I still don't understand why. So as a compromise, I wear it around my neck. He was never reported as dead, only MIA. Until I know for sure he is dead, I refuse to stop wearing my wedding band. At least, I refuse to stop wearing it around my neck. Like I said, I don't understand why my brother insists on me not wearing it.

I quickly pulled out my purse and handed her the coins, but I let go of Rosemary's hand in the process. When I went to grab her hand, she was gone. "Rosemary?" I called out as I looked around confused, where did she go? "Did you see where my daughter went?" I asked the lady selling food, she shook her head while giving me a nasty look. I glared at her as I quickly grabbed the food and looked around for my four-year-old daughter. "Rosemary?!" I called out louder when I still couldn't find her.

I stood up on top of a bench trying to get a better view. How did she slip away so quickly? It wasn't like her to just run off, especially when I was buying her food. Not to mention she knows how much I'm afraid of losing her. I only let go of her hand for five seconds, but I guess that is long enough for her to run off, I hope she went back to Howard. Please, Lord, don't let her have gotten taken. "Rosemary!" I called out trying to spot her black curly hair and bright bow I put on her in case something like this happened. She was wearing a black and white dress that Howard bought her, so that wouldn't help me find her.

"Ma'am, is everything alright?" A young man asked as he looked at me concerned. He had two women with him, one on each arm, but all three of them looked at me concerned. "You were shouting a name, did you lose someone in the crowd?"

"My daughter, I let go of her hand for a few seconds to buy her some food and now she's gone," I explained to him. "I just don't know where she went, I should've been more careful," I muttered as I looked around. The three of them looked at me, and I noticed the two girls give me a look of disdain when they didn't see a wedding band on my left hand. I didn't think much of it, but the man didn't look at me like that.

"We'll help you find her." He said as he came up and offered me his hand to help me down. "Where did you see her last?" He asked as I jumped down and continued to glance around frantically.

"I was holding her hand right in front of the peanut stand, she was hungry and wanted some food. I didn't think she would slip away, what if somebody took her?" I asked beginning to panic, she's been gone for over ten minutes now. "She's the only thing I have left of..."

"It's going to be alright ma'am, don't worry. We'll help you find her." He reassured me, then he turned to the girls. "Go look around for her."

"Wait..." I called as I opened the locket around my neck and showed them a picture of Rosemary. "She has black curly hair and gray eyes, she was wearing a bright red bow and a black and white dress. My brother bought it for her." I explained.