From Darkness

Chapter 20: Farewell

In the early hours of the morning, after the party was over and everyone had left, Ivy and Uli remained awake. They sat by the lit fireplace, drinking coffee and talking. As the sun began to rise, the clouds dispersed and the sky lightened. Dew lingered in the air, creating a dense fog.

"You did never tell me what happened to Julia. Whenever I asked, you always said the same 'I don't know,' but you must have known something," Ivy said after they spent a minute in silence.

"I really have no idea, Ivy. She just disappeared the same day that you came here. Her entire family just left and abandoned their house," he said.

"But, were there no rumours at all? No suspicions of what made them leave?"

"Rumour was that her family was Jewish, or part Jewish, and that they fled. There have been some raids as of lately, but back in that time the Jews in Kiel were left alone, so that's why I don't think that's the reason," Uli replied.

"Julia a Jew? Heavens no, I hate to think I held dear someone so vile... No, Julia was Aryan. Maybe they just needed to leave suddenly, you know? A family emergency, perhaps? It happens... This whole time I've been trying to figure it out. I guess I never will," she said.

"That's all I know. I'm sorry, but I have to go now, I must get back home," Uli said apologetically.

"When will I see you again? Soon?" Ivy asked.

"Very soon, I can come for your birthday next month," he kissed her forehead and stood up. He straightened up his steel blue pilot uniform.

"I forgot to mention how nice your uniform is. It makes you look very important," she smiled.

"I am very important, didn't you know?" he smiled back.

Ivy walked him to the door. "Are you sure you're okay to ride back without any sleep? We have an empty guest room you could sleep in," Ivy said.

"I'm okay, I can sleep when I get home," he hugged her.

"Goodbye for now, then," Ivy hugged him back.             

"Until I see you again, goodbye," he went over to his bike which was parked on the curb in front of the house. Uli put on his helmet and started the bike. He waved at Ivy once more and rode off. Ivy stood on the sidewalk, still in her gown, with her coffee cup clutched in her hands. She felt so tired, having stayed up all night. But she also felt so elated to have seen Uli again. His visit had brought some sad news, but the joy of seeing him was stronger than her sadness for poor Gretel.

                                                                                          ~

April came and went with rainy showers and blooming tulips. Uli kept his promise and visited Ivy on her birthday. Simone prepared a grand dinner for the family and their guest. Ivy was delighted to have Uli and her parents, grandparents, and brother all at the same table.

"So, Ulrich, what are your thoughts thus far on flying fighter planes? Is it what you had expected?" Grandfather Antoine asked. "It's more than I expected, sir. I do enjoy it, although I haven't been in a real fight yet, and I imagine that isn't enjoyable at all," Uli answered.

"Not at all. I remember, when I fought in The Great War, I remember feeling excited to get out there on the front, my rifle loaded, ready to shoot down the enemy. But it was not easy or exciting at all, it was..." Antoine cleared his throat, "Regardless, you have nothing to worry about, I'm sure. People don't want another war, I can tell, and people have to want a war for it to happen."