Broken Wings

A Heartfelt Letter

Else Schüffen-   Munich, Germany 1941

Now, it seemed, Maximilian was gone from Else's life forever. At least, the real Max. After all, he was supposed to be dead, and that's what it felt like to Else. There was no longer a Maximilian Schüffen on this earth. In his place, a Henrik Brandenburg had appeared.

Else stared longingly out the attic window, upset and alone. Little flurries swirled down from the gray sky, covering the earth like fairy dust. It seemed so dark and gloomy outside, reflective of the events going on around her. She merely stood there, staring out into nowhere, as if there were not a single thing better to do. Yet it was quite the opposite. Piles of homework awaited her. Paintings waited, unfinished, collecting dust on their surfaces. Lunch remained, untouched.

Why couldn't there be another way?

❀❀❀

"Remember, Else, you do not know Henrik, he is a stranger. You may only speak to him in private when we give you permission. No more letters, no more speaking of him. You are extremely sad and upset because your brother has died. Don't forget, Else, for you could put his life in danger," Father lectured for the umpteenth time.

"Ja, I know, Father." She leaned against the kitchen table, twiddling with her fingers. She watched Father pace back and forth, back and forth, gnawing on a piece of last night's bread.

Father paused, a frown spreading across his face. "Now. where's that smile of yours?"

Her lips curved upwards ever so slightly. Yet inside, Else merely wanted to cry, to allow the tears to drip down her cheeks like paint down a canvas. "Is that better?" she asked.

Smiling, he nodded his head. "Good girl. Go out and enjoy yourself; it's Saturday!"

Else sighed, trudging to the entryway to grab her coat and mittens, which, though warm, were extremely itchy. As she stepped outside, Else shivered. The wind was biting today. It struck her cheeks as soon as she strolled into the strong gusts. Myna was right outside her house, poking around at something on the frozen ground.

"Finally. I was waiting all day for you to come over," Myna groaned, getting up from the steps.

"Why didn't you just come over to my house?"

"I don't know. I thought you'd still be upset over Maximilian..." she trailed off.

"What do you mean? I mean, I never see him anymore, but--" Else stopped short, realizing her mistake. A feeling of dread rose in her stomach.

"What?"

"Never mind. Come on, let's just go."

Myna shrugged and began walking away in her fast pace. Relieved, Else followed, her throat loosening. Just a little bit longer until she could be safe again. Safe from the world of darkness.

But she wasn't safe yet.

A draft of heat cut through the biting cold. Myna came to a stop, shivering.

"That's weird. Did the sun finally decide to warm us up?" she asked, glancing at her friend. But Else didn't look back. "Else?"

Else turned, looking her friend in the eye. The air smelled of burnt bread left in the oven for much too long. Odd bits of blackened specks fluttered through the air. Tears rolled down Else's rosy red cheeks, freezing against her skin. "It's a fire."

Myna gasped, turning her attention towards the blazing flames that consumed their neighbor's home. "We have to help! Quick, find someone to help," she cried, desperation tainting her voice.

"We can't. He's a Jew," Else cried. Myna stared helplessly at her friend, tears forming in her eyes.

"It's not fair. It's just not fair."

❀❀❀

The Jew was dead.

He had lived alone, and didn't even realize his home was on fire until it was too late. Else refused to walk past the charred, smoky remains, yet her father described it vividly to her. "Looks like a skeleton of a home," he had said. "A cremated skeleton."

As each day passed, Max became more of a distant memory instead of a real person. Mama and Father ceased to talk about him. Else would bring his name up, but it was always immediately dismissed.

Myna didn't even know that he was still alive.

So many secrets.

"Are you excited for Christmas, Else?" Mama asked, tucking her into bed.

"I suppose so, Mama."

"Well, just try to be cheerful. Okay? Christmas is tomorrow, and then everything will be better."

It didn't feel like Christmas to Else.

The next morning, sun streamed in through the window, exposing all of the little dust particles that flitted about. Yawning, Else sat straight up from her bed. It took her a minute to realize it was Christmas morning. Smiling, she pulled up her stockings and rushed down the stairs, excited to see what the Christmas tree looked like with all the sparkling presents and tinsel strung around it.

"Merry Christmas, darling!" Mama and Father yelled in unison, hugging their daughter. A thin layer of snow coated the ground outside, just enough to call it a white Christmas. Else smiled, squished in between her parents' arms. Her eyes gazed towards the door, half expecting it to swing open, with Josef standing in the door.

Yet he never came.

"Let's open presents, shall we?" Father said excitedly. Else nodded and crawled toward the tree. It looked stunning in the sunshine, so sparkly and happy.

She wished she felt that way.

Once the gifts were all placed in their proper owner's lap, Else began to gently tear into the plain paper. The first slowly revealed a set of three new canvases. She set them aside and began tearing into the next unknown package. As the paper slid off, Else smiled. It was a journal, just like Maximilian's. Tears coming to her eyes, she set it down in a bed of wrapping paper and continued on to the last present. It was rather flat and thin, appearing to have no contents in it. Curious, Else tore off the top and pulled on the piece of paper that lay inside.

It was a letter from Max.

Her eyes widening, she quickly tore off the top of the envelope and began scanning his words.

Dearest Else,

Merry Christmas! You of all people deserve to have the happiest, most wonderful Christmas of all time. It would break my heart for you to have one that is anything else.

I am doing quite well. I finally feel like a normal citizen that people think of as a real person. I can go wherever I want, without getting questioned or punished. It's quite nice, actually, I think you would enjoy it. It's kind of like acting, you know? I would make a good actor, I think.

I only can hope that you receive the letter and that it goes through smoothly to your house. I have been devastated in not being able to communicate with my family. It has torn me apart. At least now, you'll know that I'm all right, and I miss and love you dearly.

You are young, Else, enjoy yourself. Do not let the negative and emotionless way of the world around you get in your way. I think that the world has an empty heart that needs to be filled with love. Love that only you can give. Please. It's the only way you can help me.

And Else, remember to nurture your passions and release your emotions through them. It really does help.

With much love for you,

Max

Else held the tear-stained paper to her chest, sobbing. Partially with joy, partially with anguish, and partially with sadness. She could just feel him coming back to life in her soul. He had even signed it Max. Not Henrik.

It's the only thing she had left of him.

It may be the only thing she'd ever have left of him.