A Piece Of My Heart

My dearest, Rosa,

It has only been a day since I left your arms and was shipped to...

Wherever this tiny island is.

I still have your picture tucked into my pocket, and I take it out often.

The other men here do the same, but one of them, Billy, gives us a hard time.

War is war, he says, but I don't know if he means it.

William says he lost someone.

Which is how I know I'm lucky to have you.

I miss you so much, Rosa.

But maybe Billy has a point.

I want to make the world a better place, to make a difference.

War is war.

But love is also love.

I have to go now.

We've just arrived, and the commander is yelling at us to get in line.

I'm looking at your picture right now, Rosa.

I'll be looking at it till I fall asleep.

-Thomas ♡

Thomas,

I am glad to hear that you arrived safely.

Your letter is undated, but I received it yesterday eve, about 35 days since you left.

I don’t know how long it will take for this to get to you, but my father brings news from the city.

A young man has come to apprentice for him in his work, and Father wants me to show him around.

Yes, Thomas, I do realize how inappropriate this is, but my heart belongs to you, as it always has.

I do think it will be a good opportunity, and I need to get out of this stuffy house.

Mother has been on my back, insisting that I start my training for proper courtship and the like.

Oh, that reminds me. I passed the meadow yesterday, do you remember?

The one with the purple lilac flowers.

Thomas, when I passed the meadow, the flowers were in full bloom, despite the cold winter air surrounding us.

I can only hope this is a sign.

Despite our dreary surroundings, we will stay together and grow.

I miss those moments of ours.

Where we could run free and forget about the world for a bit.

Thomas… I fear my doubts are starting to get the better of me.

I worry about you.

Nevertheless, I wish you the best of luck in the war, and hope that silly idiot Billy comes to his senses.

Ps. I enclosed a sprig of the lilac…

Hopefully, it will bring you the memories it brought me.

-With love, Rosa

Dearest Rosa,

It's been around 42 days since you last wrote.

Your letter, it was written so long ago that time does not seem real.

I was in the barracks with Billy when they rushed this up.

I thought something terrible had happened to you, but I guess I had forgotten to account for the slowness of the post.

They said we'll be posted out in the 'hole' later, whatever that means.

I've been lucky so far.

I haven't had to fight at all.

They've had us in this camp.

We can't sleep more than three hours, and we have to run this course till we can do it perfectly.

Men have been freezing their fingers off.

Poor William jumped, rest his soul.

The flower fell out; it was nothing but a bit of dust at this point.

The smell remained, though.

What is this about an apprentice?

I go off to fight, and you've already replaced me??

Only joking.

I think you should get out.

Rosa, the trees around here are just beautiful.

Nothing like San Francisco.

They smell like sweet honey and drop the most delicious fruit.

The boys and I went out earlier, instead of slop (what they like to call breakfast), to collect the fruit.

I laughed for the first time in...

I don't even know how long.

But we're getting punished for it.

I saved a berry, though.

When I get back, I'm taking you berry picking.

Billy says that there are places you can go for it.

Guess what I'm doing now?

Assembling a sniper rifle!

They say that my aim is pretty good, so I got put on the sniper training.

Fancy stuff, huh?

I'll be behind the lines, mostly protected, they say, so I'll be home before you know it.

I even got a shiny badge.

Sure, it's miserable, cold, and all of us are starving, but truthfully?

It's everything I've ever dreamed of.

I'm changing the world, Rosa.

I only wish that you were here to see it.

-Thomas ♡

Thomas,

I’m relieved to hear that you have not had to fight yet.

Congratulations on your badge.

I know how much it means to you.

Here, in San Francisco, the grasp of winter has lessened, and it’s simply beautiful.

Our night walks are lovely, filled with glowing, magical lights and fairytale sunsets.

Benjamin, the apprentice, is quite the respectable man.

He’s funny, and I enjoy our talks.

I would love to hear more about your life in the camp and the people there.

I’m terribly sorry about William; he seemed like a nice lad.

You mentioned Billy.

Has he come around?

I also came up with something I want to do with you when you get back.

Will that be soon?

Of course, I know you don’t know, and what you are doing is important.

But on a walk, I passed a quaint little shop, filled with stunning dresses.

Wedding dresses, that is.

Benjamin said that I would look absolutely gorgeous in this sparkly, lacy one, and I was wondering if you would agree.

I can just see it now, me in this dress, and you in a crisp suit.

That’s what I want to do when you get back.

Well… I talked to Mother, and I bought it.

I know it’s a little soon, but I think you feel the same way.

All this time apart made me realize that I want you in my life.

Anyway, I can’t wait to talk to you again.

The women around here are so posh, they have no sense of fun.

I wanted to go diving in the pond, but they said it wasn’t ladylike.

All these silly rules!

Sometimes I wonder how I’ll ever keep up.

Do you have any women at your camp?

I know some enlisted, and I thought, well, maybe I could too?

It’s just…

Nevermind.

I have to leave now, mother wants me to go to some fancy ball.

But, I imagine, no matter who I dance with, I’ll feel your arms wrapped around me.

Ps. I enclosed a picture of the dress…

Let me know what you think.

-With love, Rosa

Dear Rosa,

The camp is full of interesting people.

There aren't many women here, but the few that are here take their job very seriously.

None of them even comes close to you, of course.

I think of you every day, though the picture I came with got lost.

I hope the lilacs are still in bloom.

They were always the most colorful this time of year.

Stay in the city.

I wouldn't want you out here and in danger.

I'm sorry to hear that things have slowed down there.

Focus on your skills and listen to your parents.

Your safety is the most important thing.

As for your 'fun', I think it's best if you focus on... other things.

We need to grow up if we want to serve our country.

The things I've seen out here, Rosa...

You wouldn't believe me.

We are about to go out again.

We've lost so many people.

Billy got cracked in the head.

He's crazy now.

I think we all are.

The weather's perfect, at least.

The wind sweeps away the smell of blood.

My sniper skills are up, so I'll be fine.

I'll be home soon, promise.

We can discuss more then.

-Thomas ♡

Dear Thomas,

I was so glad to hear from you, though I wish it could be longer.

Spring is finally here, and I have to say that I am glad for the warm evenings.

Life has been much too dreary lately.

I try to follow the news of the war, but it is difficult, as Mother and Father want me to focus on other things instead.

I don’t know why I thought I could join the war.

All of my friends are in courtships now.

Though I do feel sorry for the men brave enough to court them.

It makes me sad to think that I can not walk with you tonight.

You would have loved this new path Benjamin and I found.

It’s filled with tall, feathery trees and bell-shaped flowers.

We enjoy taking picnics there.

I passed the meadow yesterday, and the lilacs are starting to blossom again.

I don’t want to push you, especially since you are so busy fighting, but I simply couldn’t help but wonder if you thought about my offer?

You didn’t mention your thoughts on the picture, either.

Is all well?

The war must be awful, but I am proud of you for doing your best to serve the country.

I thought a lot about what you said, and I decided to take up writing.

Nothing big, just a local newspaper.

My article got published today!

I’ll send you a clipping of it.

Front page, can you believe it?

Mother, Father, and Benjamin were over the moon when they saw it.

I understand that it’s nowhere near as important as what you do, but I would like to help in any way I can.

If I cannot fight with a sword, then I will try to do so with a pen.

I hope you come home soon.

I’ve set up a whole room filled with books and pictures.

It has a huge window, where we can watch the snow, rain, or shine.

As for Benjamin…

He listens when I ramble.

I appreciate his company, though I wish it were yours.

I’m attending a showing tonight.

Mother set up a whole party, just to celebrate my article.

If only you could be there to see it.

Even if my words go unanswered, I am here, thinking of you always.

Ps. Enclosed is a clipping of my newspaper article.

-With all my love, Rosa

Rosa,

The snowstorms have started.

No more berries.

War is war.

Good luck with your writing.

I'll be fine.

Imagine that.

A life not covered in blood.

-Thomas

Dearest Thomas,

What is time?

Here I am, enjoying warm apple cider and biscuits, while you are out there freezing in the snow.

You say you are fine, yet you do not respond to half of my questions.

This war is not good for anyone.

I want you to come home, fighting be damned.

Thomas…

If something were to…

Spring has almost finished, and the long summer nights are approaching the horizon.

I’ve started my own newspaper.

It’s not very big yet, but Benjamin tells me that these things take time.

My dress hangs in the closet, gathering dust.

Every so often, when I pass it, I remember what I said before.

Now, I realize that I pushed you too far, too quickly.

I’m sorry for that.

I write millions of words each day, but the only ones I look forward to seeing are yours.

My friends have already planned their weddings.

Most are in the summer, but one is next week.

Benjamin is going to accompany me, because you are otherwise occupied.

Oh, your sister came into town.

She wanted to see you.

How could you not tell her?

I offered her a place to stay at my house, but I can tell she’s not entirely comfortable.

Father said that the war is almost over.

But who can really know?

I happened across this cafe, overlooking the bay.

You can sit in this little corner, and the water sparkles when the sun hits it.

I’ve told the owners all about you; they’re probably sick of me at this point.

It's owned by this lovely couple, Larry and Nancy.

Nancy loves to write as well.

Larry is a kind soul; you would like him.

I was sitting in the window, and two kids rushed through the door.

They have children, isn’t that exciting?

Absolute angels, they are.

I hope the weather clears up for you.

Be sure to look at the stars tonight, there’s a full moon.

Know that I’ll be looking at them too.

Ps. Enclosed is a picture of the cafe corner.

-With all my love, Rosa ♡

R

I'm glad you're doing well.

I trust you to make the right choice.

-T

My dearest, Thomas,

Summer is here.

Yet this is all I have heard from you.

Benjamin and I went down to the bay and had a lovely time.

I don’t know when the war will end, but Mother is pushing me to make a decision.

I’ve lost so much sleep over this, and my articles are spiraling.

My paper has grown much bigger; it’s now one of the largest in San Francisco.

Nancy and your sister have tried to talk to me, but I push them away.

This is something I have to do for myself.

This morning, when I woke up, the sun sent one shining ray through my window.

Guess where it pointed?

A pot of fresh lilacs.

That was the moment I knew.

At the bay…

Benjamin proposed.

And I…

I said yes.

He is a lovely man, and I know that I can grow to love him deeply.

Mother and Father approve, saying that the stability is just what I need.

I’ve always wanted a winter wedding.

I hope everything is well with you.

I’m starting a fundraiser for less fortunate children.

It’s called the Blooming Lilacs.

I’ll be watching the stars tonight, as I always do.

They seem to shine brighter.

-With love, Rosa

Thomas,

I’m writing this sitting in a field of flowers.

Spring has come again, and the world has exploded with color.

Just how you always loved it.

Benjamin is playing with little Tom, our first child.

Sometimes I wonder how our lives would have changed without the war.

I have to go now, Benjamin is calling.

Thomas, no matter what, I just want you to know

That you’ll always have a piece of my heart.

-Love, Rosa