The Secret Box - The Final Chapter

As I lifted the lid of my treasure I was a bit perplexed at its contents. There in front of me were hundreds of envelopes, each wrapped in a stack tied with a similar ribbon as the one that my gift box was tied with. Each envelope was yellowed with age and crumpled as if been handled over and over again. I reach in and pull a bundle out to examine it more closely. The post mark is from Germany, 1943.

I feel a bit awkward and nosy, but I can not help myself and I slide the first letter from its home and anxiously lift the flap that has kept it sealed for what I assume is many years. I begin to read…….

My dearest Gwendolyn,

I can not believe it has been two years, three months and thirteen days since I have seen your beautiful face. Each night I go to sleep with the hope to wake a live another day that will bring me closer to seeing you again. As I clutch the picture you have given me I imagine myself holding you in my arms and smelling the sweet scent of your hair. The thought of your smile brings a smile to my face and a skip of my heart. Please know that you are in my every thought and that everything I do is to make my way home to you.

We are moving closer each day to Berlin, but the walk from France was exhausting and not without peril. As we come over each hill or through each valley we are unsure if we will be greeted by gunfire or a small family home just hoping for peace.

I must go now and try to rest as another long day lies ahead. I hope this letter finds you well and in good spirits.

Until we see each other again, you have all my love.

Your husband ~ Henry

Tears are brought to my eyes and I can feel them running down my cheeks. The emotions were so raw and moving I feel as if I am experiencing Henry’s anguish myself. I put the letter down and quickly examine the other bundles. Each one contains letters and postmarks from all over Europe. Each package contains thirty letters; there are twelve bundles in this chest. For a moment I am confused and then I begin to look in the other chest and then it all comes together, they are all here….

Beginning in 1941 and ending in 1944 there is a letter for each day of the year. He has written to her everyday for three years. She has kept all of them and has carefully tied them together. But why have they been left here for me?

And then I realize, Gwendolyn is my great grandmother Winnie and Henry is my great grandfather. This is their love story.

I always knew that my husband and I were purchasing Winnie and Henry’s old farmhouse, but the previous owners were not relatives, friends or even acquaintances of ours. This is truly amazing. I dig to the rear of the little room and find the box containing the oldest of the letters and I remove the first bundle. I walk into my new bedroom and place them in the top drawer of my nightstand.

Several days later once my bedroom is fit for inhabitants I slide under the covers and take out the first letter. This is the beginning of a ritual that will last me over three years, as each night I take out one letter and relive the love story that was created so long ago.

I hope this ended as you hoped it would and that it brought a smile to your face! :) I would love to know your thoughts......