Out of the Ashes I: Surviving the Storm

Chapter 3

I awoke the next morning tired, but so excited. I was meeting with Isaac today! Of course I'd met him him before, but not since we'd started exchanging letters. He was two years my senior, but he has a sister who's in the class ahead of me. We all have the same group of friends. We never talked, just a hello, or friendly smile in the hallway.

I never had thought about him, even when exchanging the letters. That is until we sent a few pictures to each other, then we both made the connection. Really we weren't even supposed to talk, he lived on the east side of the wall, and I on the West. But one day I noticed the brick was different, and I pushed on it and it moved. I saw a couple letters, and opened them, and replied back, by switching  the stone around like the letter said to do. And that's how it all started.

I got up, and went to my closet. I picked out a nice purple dress, with  a white collar, and a white sweater. The purple accented my medium brown hair, and chocolate brown eyes. Brushing my hair, and smoothing the natural beach curls i took a step back and looked over my reflection. Perfect. Glancing  at the clock  I realize it it almost 11.

  Leaving my room, and going down stairs I went to the kitchen where  I knew mom's was making breakfast.

  "Momma, I've got to run to Berkovich's, I'm out of stationary, do you need anything for the cooking today?" I asked. Tomorrow is Shabbat(A/N Shabbat is Hebrew for Sabbath), so momma does all the cooking today.

  "No dear, I've got everything, but I really don't like the idea of you going out by yourself." She said, in a concerned tone.

  "I won't be long momma, and I'll have Mrs. Berkovich call when I leave. I love you." I said kissing momma on the cheek.

  "Make sure she calls, I love you dear."momma said as I closed the door.

  The cafe was five blocks from my house. I got there in about 15 minutes. It was 11:20 when Isaac arrived. I couldn't contain my joy, as I ran over and hugged him tightly. Wanting to remember every detail about him.

  Knowing him now, he didn't look the same as all the times I'd seen him before. His eyes where bluer, his hair softer. My head came to a few inches  below his shoulders. As we pulled away I looked into his eyes, blue met brown, and it was as if looking into the eyes of my best friend, as if we'd known each other forever.

   We found a small booth by the window, and sat next to each other.

  "I'm afraid we don't have long." I said laying my head on his shoulder, loving the feeling of being next to him.

  "I know, my dear. I want to give you something, he said turning his body toward me "Close your eyes." I did as I was told and closed my eyes."open."

   As I opened my eyes they flooded with tears. In his hand he held a necklace. It was absolutely beautiful. There where two hearts, intertwined, one hanging from the other. The top hung from a smooth, delicate, silver snake chain. The heart hanging from the chain had an aquamarine gemstone on it, and the bottom an emerald. My birthstone and his.

He placed it in my hand and turned it over.

  "Without you I'd have no where to hang my heart." I whispered  as I read the words engraved on my heart, the read the words engraved on his "You'll always have my heart, love Isaac-1942". I said as tears slipped down my cheek.

   "Get it like hang my hat?" He said, totally ruinning the moment. I looked at him, and saw the glimmer in his eyes, and chuckled.

  "Of course I get it, dork." I said kissing his cheek. Giving him a playful push on the chest. "Isaac, this really is beautiful. Will you put it on me?" He took the necklace and slipped it around my neck as I held my hair.

  "How does  it look?" I asked him.

  "Like it belongs there. Juliana, I can't even stand the thought of us being apart. I will write you once I get to my aunt's house, and when I get back, I promise, we'll be together forever." He said looking into my eyes, while sweeping hair back from my forehead.

   "I love you." I whispered. For the first time out loud.

   "I love you, Juliana, and I hope this necklace will serve as our promise to each other." He said resting his forehead against Mine.

   "Whenever I look at it I'll think o- uh oh!" I cut of mid- sentence. "It's Mrs. Berckovich!" I said watching as she stormed across the street toward the entrance to the cafe.

  "I love you," I said, kissing his cheek "but you know we can't be seen together!"

  "I'll sneak out the back, I love you Juliana! I'll write tonight" he said urgently walking away. He disappeared out of site just as Mrs. Berkovich stormed into the  cafe.

  " Juliana Adira Baumgarten, your poor momma is sick with worry!" Mrs. Berkovich, "where in the world have you been?" She asked me with the all to rehearsed mother look.

  "I'm terribly sorry, Mrs. Berkovich, I was thirsty, and stopped in for a water, and just lost track of time. I was just leaving actually to come get some more stationary from your store. Shall  we walk back together?"

  Not believing my story a bit, we left and walked the short distance to her and her husband's store. I got my stationary and left, after getting an earful from momma on the phone, promising  to continue the conversation when I returned home. I look at my watch. It was 12:45.. oops.. 'sorry momma' I thought to myself.

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A/N. So how cute are they?! And Isaac... so sweet:) lol. Okay, comment, vote, tell a friend, or five, or twelve, haha(not joking though, really do tell a friend:)