A collection of short love stories from a different time, different place and whole other world entirely. All stories are written purely for escapism. Everything is fictional and are not intended to offend or resemble actual events, places and inci...
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Summer, 1941
The streetlight flickered as silence rolled between them. Elise had her hand on the window glass on the passenger side, her thoughts going over her supposed visit to Matthew's family. It was the first time she was meeting his stepmother and stepbrothers. Although his father had been slightly welcoming, the rest of his family had been openly impolite.
His stepmother, Abigail, took one look at her and she turned away muttering something to herself. They hadn't been welcomed inside the house. Elise had overheard their muffled conversation behind their front door. Abigail wanted the Jewish girl from the next town for Matthew. Not the doe-eyed girl he brought home.
They had no choice but to leave. Elise requested they stop for a while when they reached the backroad. Crickets chirped and dogs howled the longer the car stayed motionless under the yellowish streetlights. Giant trees stood guard from a distance.
Matthew's hand crawled to cover hers on her lap. "Elise," he calls softly.
She wanted to cry. But she doesn't want him to see her cry. She restrained her quivering lip between her teeth and clambers out of the car in a hurry. Tears spilled out of her eyes and she wipes them hastily.
The car door from the driver's side bursts open, Matthew walked toward her, his arms immediately going around her.
Elise burrows her face to the crook of his neck. "I wanted them to like me."
"Sweetheart, it wouldn't matter." Matthew's hand stroked her back.
She sobs. "But I don't want to lose you."
Matthew kisses her hair as he tugs her closer to his chest. "There's only you for me, Elise. Just you."
"But your family," she sobs, a fresh rush of tears overwhelmed her.
He holds her in arm's length, his other hand clutching her tear-stained cheek. "You're the only one that matters. I'll soon get my degree. I'll be a doctor and we'll get married. I'll get a job and we're going to runaway forever. Wherever you want."
"We will?" She asks.
Matthew nods. "I love you so much, Elise. Nothing hurts more than to apart from you."
Elise leans to his palm. "I love you too, Matthew. Always and forever."
His gaze turns suspiciously shiny as he holds her one more time. It wasn't like any other embrace. It was something that promises never to let go. Elise was safe. As long as he was there to hold her close. Even with the war unfolding into an increasingly appalling news on the radio – a reality than a gossip – Elise never felt more safer than she is with Matthew.
Her tears subsided, but she held on. She rests her cheek on his shoulder. "I want us to stay close to my family though."
A laugh vibrated in his throat. "I'll go wherever you go, sweetheart."
"You'll come to my brother's wedding, right? Daddy wants to see James and Catherine get married before he leaves for the army." She steps back a little to see his face.
He smiles. "I will."
His dad has enlisted, leaving the furniture shop to James who will eventually inherit the shop anyway. Susannah has been a great help to their brother. When he proposed to Catherine, Susie even helped to choose her wedding dress.
Matthew had met her family. Unlike the indifferent acknowledgement Matthew's family had, they were, thankfully, welcoming. Matthew was simply endearing.
* * *
Matthew came to the wedding before his and Lucas' trip back to university. Elise had been happy the entire day, only to be left dejected in the middle of the celebration when Matthew had to go. They stand in the porch, music and people dancing drone on inside the house. It's always breaks her heart to see him go.
She leans against one of the wood posts, her fingers tracing the railings. Matthew comes up from behind her, his arms around her waist as he kisses the side of her head. "You need to dance with me before I go."
A sad smile fleets past her lips. She covers his hands with hers. "If I hold you, I'm afraid I'll never let go."
Matthew turns her all the way to him. "But if I don't get to dance with you, I'm afraid I'll never go."
"Matthew," she gasped. "You need to finish college."
He pressed her close against his chest, his forehead on hers. "I know. But I desperately want to be your last dance tonight."
Elise rolled to her toes and pecks on his cheek. "You'll always be my first and last dance."
His hands guided her arms to his shoulders before taking their rightful place on her waist. "That's a promise I'll hold onto for as long as I'm away."
They swayed to the music from inside the house. Although muffled, they could make out the rhythm. "Promise, you'll write to me?" Matthew plucks one of her hand off his shoulder and kisses her knuckles. "Send me letters. I don't care how long. It can be about anything. Although it always has to say you're missing me so much as I'm missing you."
Elise nods, her eyes moist. "I will, Matthew."
He plants a lingering kiss on her forehead.
She wanted to hold on a little longer, but Lucas has pulled up on the side of the road and honked. Her gut wrenches as he pulls away. He leans in one more time, his mouth seeking hers. "I love you."
He lets go. Elise felt suddenly cold. His perfume lingered and then they were gone. She watches him get on the car and pauses to see her one last time.
"I love you," she whispers.
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