M I D D L E of Enemy Lines

Chapter Five

A soft knock lands on my door. " It's open." I call and Aunt Elsa walks in softly shutting the door. She comes over and sits on my bed. Patting beside her I oblige and sit down.
" I am sorry. I am sorry about all of this."
I only lay my head on her shoulder.
" You must know this is for your own protection, as well as ours. We want to keep you safe. These people..." Her voice slowly fades as she tries to figure out her thoughts and how to voice them.
" Safe from the men who killed my parents? The people who have ruined mine and many other of my friends teenage years. Ruined our high school experience?" I was close to tears. It wasn't anger or bitterness. It was sadness. My tone somber. My voice monotone. I think of my friends back at home. I remember back to our promises and plans for this coming year. We would have been seniors. " I never expected my Summer of '44 would be any different from the rest. I mean right when school ends my house is packed up. My things shipped, and I am here. End of May I am in Berlin, Germany... James, Eugene, George, Frank, Desmond, Nathan, Shirley, Daniel, Nelson, Ray, and Richard all are... who knows where by now." My eyes start to get watery, but I blink them back. " The Summer before senior year and everything is crap. I wonder how many of them are dead now..." my voice hollow and desolate.
" Enough! Enough of that nonsense! Your friends are safe and alive! You still will get to enjoy your senior year in high school. It won't be yours back in California, but you have Nico and Liesel. You will meet their friends and make friends of your own. Enjoy your Summer while you can. When you don't have to put in too much thought. Your Uncle and I will be the ones to worry while you go enjoy your Summer nights. You go find a nice young man to fall in love with and enjoy a Summer fling."
I look at Aunt Elsa startled and stunned. Never had I heard an outburst like this. I start to cry at the mention of falling in love. " I already am in love! I have been since I was ten! I have fallen hard and I ruined it and I messed up. I still love him and now he thinks I hate his guts!" I bawl out. Aunt Elsa comes back over to where I was now standing. She wraps her arms around me lovingly and protectively.
" Shhh. Shhh. What happened?" She asks leading me back to my bed. I crawl on it and sit crossing my legs as I hug a pillow.
" W- we got in some fight. I don't even remember what it was about! I mean sure, James and I argue, but this one was different. I screamed that I would be more than happy if he got killed in action. Than I wished him luck trying to score on any women and how he'd get beaten up by their boyfriend or husband. That isn't even him! He's hardly kissed any girl. Let alone make out with them! Their is no way he would have sex with a girl before he got married." My face falls into my pillow as I cry. " He was my first kiss... I have always wanted him to be my last, but when we were older... I still remember our last happy night." I cry out.
Aunt Elsa just hugs me and rubs my back. " I want to know more about this happy night of yours." She said with a tiny smile.
" I remember thinking what a marvelous tune... we were at the boardwalk." I begin a grin immediately upon my face. " It was the best night, never would forget the way he moved. The whole entire place; everyone was dressed to the nines and we were dancing... it felt as if we were made of starlight." My blue eyes glossed over with enchantment.
" Go on." Auntie whispered eagerly to me in awe.
" He had picked me up late that night. Windows rolled down. I mean we're seventeen. We were being crazy, running wild that night. Just having a ball." I laughed. The kind of laugh where your eyes twinkle and your face just glows. " Oh, but that tune. Was such a marvelous tune. I can't remember the song, but the tune." I let out a soft dreamy sigh as I recall back to that night. Not less than three weeks ago. " We talked crazy. All of us did. What we would do after high school, our dream jobs, how we wanted our weddings and how many kids. Even the boys joined in!" I beamed grabbing Aunt Elsa's forearm. " Ooh, He was dancing with me. We've danced so many times, but then. Right then I knew I wanted to marry him." My voice resigning. " Now... now he hates me... thinks I hate him too. Don't know if he kept my picture when he left for boot camp." A few tears fall down my soft cheeks. " That night I dreamt impossible things... don't you dream impossible things Auntie?" I ask looking at her. Her face was soft and wise. Nodding her head softly.
" I do. Not as much as I used to, but I do." She said kissing my cheek.
" This hope is treacherous. This daydream is dangerous... I like it." I whisper.
" What was that Miriam?" Her tone curious and worried.
" Nothing. Just thinking."
" Mmm."
Minutes passed by as we sit in comfortable silence. " I want him to come back. I want him to be here: with me." Carefully Aunt Elsa gets up and tucks me in like a kid.
" Shhh. Enough for one night. Sleep. Rest tonight and let your mind fall into its most wildest romantic dream tonight." She said smiling as she kissed my forehead before she left turning off my light.