Ava waited day by day for a letter to come from Dwain again, she wrote him back telling him how she was doing and all that was going on in the hospital. She finally recieved another letter from Paul, he was coming back soon and wanted to meet again. Her heart pounded at the thought, going into the unknown again. She felt like she was keeping her whole life a secret to the world. She knew she should tell Frannie but didn't want to take the risk and ruin all she had. She wrote Paul back but quickly put everything away. She heard Frannie coming up the stairs, "Ava, you have someone special on the phone for you.", "Alright I will be down.", Ava placed the pen on the table and headed downstairs. She picked up the phone and heard a gurgle on the other end, she couldn't help but smile. "Hi sweetie, it's mommy.", she heard a giggle and listened as her son chattered away in his own language. "Really?", she would say here and there. "Bye hunny, I love you.", she said hearing her father in the background. He gurgled again and then her father was on the line. "Hi Ava. How are you?", she missed hearing his voice. Her father was her hero and she missed their talks. "Hi Dad, I'm doing alright, I've got my work cut out for me.", she laughed. They talked for a little while catching up on the news. Her mother and brother were doing the same as always busy here and there. Her dad was babysitting for the day and wanted to call her without her mother. "Please take care of yourself.", he said with a plead in his voice. "I always do Dad, you take care too. I love you. Bye.", "I love you too hunny, bye."
Ava snuck out once again to meet Paul, it was harder today because it was like Frannie was everywhere that she went. She followed the path into the woods like she always did. They met halfway and he hugged her. "I missed you so much.", he said looking at her. "I've missed you too.", she looked up at his crystal eyes. He was her escape, she felt like the world stopped. He was taking her to the unknown, and she was willing to accept it. They talked of how everything was going. "Ava, when this war is over...", he didn't finish but instead looked at her. "What?", she asked confused by his abrupt ending. "Will you come with me, and we can be together?", his eyes looked sad and almost pleaded. Ava didn't know what to say, should she tell him no, or should she accept...... She didn't know what she truly wanted. She felt as if it was a dream and her mind was playing tricks on her. But it wasn't, it would be so much easier. He looked at her steadily, not moving his eyes from her. She knew she would be treated right by him, but for some reason she was being held back. "Paul, I care about you very deeply, and I know we would be happy together, but I have a family in America, my son is there. I can't just turn back from them and stay here.", she could feel the pain her words had, she knew it was like a daggar stabbing him to shreds. He looked down at the ground, thinking. "I'm sorry.", she said. "I know you have a son and a family, and I wouldn't want you to be seperated from them. We could find a way, I could come to America and get a job in a factory somewhere.", he continued to look down. "Paul....how would it work? YOu're part of the German Army....How could we ever be happy together, when the world would hate us?", she tried to make reason. "Ava I would do anything for you, even if it meant giving up my name, even my life.", he said looking up at her now. Their eyes met and she truly thought about accepting. "Ava I love you.", he said holding her hand. Ava's heart was pounding, and she gulped with confusion. All at once a war was being fought inside her head and her heart was running around trying to find the truth. Before she could find an answer, he kissed her, placing his hand on her cheek. Everything disappeared for a brief second. So many things were in the way. He moved away from her face. "It's getting late, you don't have to answer right now. I will wait..I promise. Goodnight Ava." He walked away into the moon light. She got her senses back and walked away.
The next morning Ava couldn't function, her thoughts were filled with what if's. She wanted to be happy, but didn't know where that was, was it with Paul? She didn't have an answer. Then Dwain came to her mind. She knew that Dwain and Emma were growing closer and no doubt falling in love. She shook the thought from her head. Another letter had come, it was from Dwain. She was startled at her last thought and now looked at the letter that had come from him. She opened it and inhaled.
Ava,
You are the first to know this, you are my closest friend. You should be the first to know, I proposed to Emma today, and she accepted. I feel she is the one for me, and I should make a life for myself. Emma is wonderful. I wish I could feel a little less happy for once. It has been like a wonderful dream and it hasn't ended for me. I am ready to move on with my life and help others out there farther than I can imagine. I am going to stay in England but I do plan to come back one day to see you and all the other familiar faces. Ava, I thank you for being my friend. I will never forget the day you told me that I would find someone that would truly love me, and that I would be happy. Thank you again. I wish you all the luck in the world.
Take care,
Dwain.
Ava held the letter, her heart broke as the words he wrote filled her mind. Dwain was part of the reason she never answered Paul. She had hope that Dwain and she could be together. She regreted not telling him her feelings when she had a chance. Tears fell down her face, he was gone forever to her. The ache in her throat grew and the tears fell heavily now. She was outside when she read the letter. Now rain fell on her as the letters he wrote began to smear. Ava dropped to her knees and cried holding the letter, and as she cried raindrops fell around her.
