Epilogue Aletta
Epilogue
Aletta
Aletta smiled as the sun reflected off the water.
She held Harry’s hand, his fingers linked with hers as they strolled along the canal.
Amsterdam was always beautiful, but in the springtime with the sunshine on her shoulders and a bright blue sky above, it was magnificent.
When they slowed, she looked at the buildings surrounding them, stretching out on either side of the canal, and it struck her just how miraculous it was that where they were walking was almost entirely untouched by the war.
There were no crumbling buildings opened up like doll’s houses, no demolished bridges or even so much as a flattened tree.
Physically, the Amsterdam she loved was unharmed, but she knew that for the people who lived there, the wounds ran deep.
But at least they could rebuild their lives without also having to rebuild their city – here, it was almost possible to believe that the war had never happened.
It was that realisation that left her tinged with a deep, overwhelming sadness which tugged at her heart, that so many people had to rebuild a life that was absent of so many loved ones.
But it was still quite something to be able to look out and not be visually reminded of the war at every turn, when so many other cities throughout Europe had been left in pieces, with destruction everywhere.
Harry squeezed her fingers, and she glanced up at him. His smile warmed her and pulled her from her thoughts, making her forget about the war and think only of him. It was something that he’d been able to do since the day he’d walked back into her life . . .
‘Shall we stop here?’
Aletta nodded, tears filling her eyes as he passed her the beautiful flower wreath that he held in his other hand.
She took a deep breath, leaning into Harry as he pressed a kiss to her temple, his lips lingering, his fingers still brushing hers until she let them go.
She still craved his touch, never taking it for granted.
It had been three years since the war ended. Three years since she’d staggered on to the bus taking her from Ravensbrück. Three years since she’d returned home and been reunited with Harry.
Aletta swallowed as she stepped forward and crouched down, leaning to place the wreath of pink and white flowers in the water. Her fingers clasped the edge, waiting for a long moment before finally releasing it.
It’s been three years since I said goodbye to you, Chloe.
Aletta felt Harry beside her, and she knew that he would be remembering the people he’d lost, too. Just as she knew her mother would be thinking of not only her husband and Chloe, but of all the people and children they’d come to know over the years at Ravensbrück.
As if sensing her thoughts, her mother’s gaze met hers and at the same time her grasp on Aletta’s daughter slipped as the little girl fought to run away, and Aletta opened her arms as her daughter skipped towards her.
But she only stopped to give Aletta a quick kiss before running alongside the canal, squealing with delight at the flower wreath as the wind sent it moving through the water, her little legs going as fast as they could.
And it was a sight that brought a smile to Aletta’s face, watching her own daughter.
‘She would be so happy to see you now.’ Her mother’s hand came to rest over her shoulder as she joined them. ‘You were born to be a mum, Aletta. Children saved us in there, and your little girl is saving us now.’
‘Our little miracle after so much loss,’ Aletta murmured, watching as her daughter turned and began to run back towards her. ‘Our little Chloe.’
Her mother smiled as Harry’s arm went around Aletta. His lips brushed her hair as she wiped her damp cheeks, catching a fresh tear with her thumb as she watched the disappearing wreath and whispered, ‘A more fearless name there never was.’