War Girls Complete Collection Chapter 346

Chapter 13

Berlin, September 1947

L

otte’s oldest sister Ursula had married this past spring and moved out of the apartment to live with her husband, Tom. Mother and Father, the latter who’d returned a wreck last fall after four years in Russian captivity, had left the horrible living conditions in Berlin and moved to Bavaria.

Now only Lotte and her second sister Anna remained in Berlin. But Anna was so occupied with her work, and her husband, she barely had time for Lotte, even before she became pregnant. While Lotte didn’t begrudge her sisters their happiness, she often felt lonely and abandoned.

It didn’t help that her friends at university urged her to move on and live her life. Their words nagged at her head and heart.

The war’s over and you’re young, you have to enjoy yourself. Why don’t you come with us to the dance? Let’s go and have some fun. We can meet some GIs and have them take us out

.

With her twenty-first birthday coming up next week, she suddenly felt old. All the other girls at university were either dating or already married. Some looked at her with pity, others with disbelief, already calling her an old spinster behind her back.

It had been almost three years since she’d last seen Johann. And while her heart didn’t doubt her love for him, her mind oftentimes pleaded with her to follow the advice of her classmates and move on.

Eighteen months ago, Karsten had visited to bring her news of Johann’s whereabouts. Eighteen letters she’d written and given to the Red Cross. And she still hadn’t received an answer. She was running out of hope.

A single tear rolled down her cheek. More and more men – sick, broken shells of men – returned home from Russian captivity. All of them had similar stories to tell, if they talked at all, and none of the things they said gave her the reassurance she craved.

It would be a miracle if Johann were still alive. How long could a man withstand backbreaking slave labor on next to no food? A year? Or two? Four years like her father?

She sighed and packed her things to leave for university.

“Hi, Lotte, what’s up?” Dietrich, a classmate, sidled up to her at the entrance to the building.

“Not much. Scavenging for food when I’m not studying.”

“Doesn’t your mother do this?”

“She’s not in Berlin.”

“Oh. I couldn’t imagine doing anything in addition to my studies. It’s so time-consuming already,” he complained.

Of course you can’t, because you’re a man and the women in your family shoulder all the burdens

, she thought, slightly annoyed.

“There’s a group of us going to a dance on the weekend. Would you come with me?” he said just before they reached the lecture hall.

“Dietrich, thank you for the invitation, but I’m afraid I wouldn’t be good company. My heart already belongs to someone else.”

His eyes narrowed. “Really? I never see you with anyone.”

It reared its ugly head again, her need to justify why she was saving herself for a man who might never return. “That’s because he’s still a prisoner of war.”

“After such a long time? And you’re sure he’s still alive?”

“No, I’m not! But as long as I have hope in my heart, I won’t date another man,” she spat out the words, not caring about his wounded expression.

She searched for a familiar face in the lecture hall. One of her friends waved her over and Lotte eagerly left Dietrich’s side.

“Hey, Lotte. Did Dietrich ask you out?” Marlene asked.

“Yes.” Lotte unpacked her bag and stacked a notepad and pencil on the desk in front of her.

“And… what did you say?”

Lotte gave a snort. “I declined, of course.”

“You didn’t!” Marlene gazed at her with wide-open eyes. “Of course you did. It’s plain crazy to keep waiting for that soldier of yours. How long were you even together?”

“Three months.” That was actually quite generous, because during that time the Warsaw Uprising had taken place, separating them for a considerable amount of time.

“Three months!” Marlene squealed. “You walked with him for three months and now you think you owe him eternal fidelity? What if he returns and the two of you don’t even recognize each other anymore? Those things happen, you know? Then you’ll have thrown away years of your youth.”

Lotte pursed her lips. “Hitler and the Nazis stole most of my youth, and it’s not like I’m not enjoying myself…” She wanted to say more, but the professor entered the lecture hall and all conversation fell silent.

Despite confidence in her feelings for Johann, a nagging thought remained. Was it possible that they’d drifted apart, and she clung to an image of him that didn’t exist anymore? So much had happened, and she’d changed since they’d last seen each other. He must have changed, too. Was their love strong enough to pick up from where they’d left off?

Suddenly she sensed the tick-tock of a clock. Every passing second took her further away from Johann.

Tick-tock.

Tick-tock.

No!

Johann would return to her side. Wasn’t that what the crazy old woman in Denmark had predicted? Lotte wasn’t superstitious, didn’t believe in witchcraft, but the more time passed, the more she clung to Ingrid’s words, wanting them to be true.

He will return. Yes, he will.

After university she queued for food, doing her homework while standing in line. As she walked to the apartment, she noticed that Berlin was slowly starting to look more like a city than a war zone. Pride filled her heart. She’d done her bit to make this change happen when toiling as a

Trümmerfrau

for months before she took up her studies. Even now she worked on weekends to add to the meager rations she received as a student.

Thankfully she didn’t have to worry about rent, because Anna and Peter both worked and had offered to shoulder this burden, so Lotte could dedicate more time to her studies.

When she unlocked the door and entered the apartment, she saw her sister making out with Peter on the sofa. They were so caught up in each other that they didn’t notice her. Lotte stared at them with envy for a moment, before she turned around and closed the door – loudly. Then she took plenty of time removing her coat and gloves and putting her worn-out shoes next to Anna’s.

When she entered the living room, Peter and Anna sat on the sofa as if nothing had happened. But Lotte wasn’t fooled. Anna’s bright rosy cheeks and the glimmer in her blue eyes betrayed her.

“Hi, Anna, Peter, is dinner in the kitchen?” she asked as casually as possible.

“Oh, I, we… we just got home and we both ate at work,” Anna said, smoothing down her skirt. “Shall I prepare something for you?”

“No. I’ll just grab a piece of bread.” Lotte smiled. “Where’s Jan?”

Peter grinned. “Officially out with friends. He won’t be home before eight.”

“Officially?”

“He’s sweet on a girl,” Anna explained about Peter’s fifteen-year-old son.

“Oh.” Lotte fled into the kitchen before her feelings could overwhelm her. The entire world seemed populated by happy couples – except for her.

A postcard with a Red Cross stamp on it lay on the kitchen table. Her heart beat wildly and she couldn’t breathe. Trembling, she approached the table, fully expecting the postcard to disintegrate in front of her eyes – a mere figment of her imagination.

But it lay still. Unmoving. Lotte sneaked up on it and snatched it. It had her name on it. In

his

handwriting. Shakier than she remembered, but unmistakably his. She flopped onto the chair, holding the postcard to her heart for several long moments. Then she raised it to her eyes and read.

Dearest Lotte,

Your letter brought me so much joy, knowing that you’re still mine. I’m well and alive. Obviously, I’m missing you, but otherwise I’m fine and I hope to be released soon. I cannot wait to hold you in my arms again. Sending you kisses.

Love forever,

Johann

The tears rolled

down her cheeks and she croaked, “Anna! Come!”

Anna rushed into the kitchen and asked, full of worry, “What’s wrong?”

“A postcard. From Johann.”

“Oh, dear.” Anna wrapped her arms around Lotte, holding her close. “That’s such good news.”