From War Came Words •H.S AU•

Barriers

(A/N: the whole idea with this is that hes telling a story through these letters, whenever words are bold and italicised, its part of the letter for the chapter .... Not every chapter will have a letter. The chopped up letter may seem like it doesn't flow together but that is simply because the story of how they came to be is being written through the letter, but it'd be a bit boring to just write an entire 10 page letter rather than be able to have you guys relive it.)

"love her, love her, love her! if she favours you, love her. if she wounds you, love her. if she tears your heart to pieces—and as it gets older and stronger, it will tear deeper—love her, love her, love her!" - Great Expectations

| n a r r a t i o n |

On the 3rd of November, nearly a month after Harry's departure, Vera received a letter from him. She could only hope it was the first of many. Her heart ached to be with him again and when she read his words, she knew that the expression he spoke to her everyday up until his departure reigned true. "You'll bring me home" he had said, if only sooner rather than later.

27 October 1939

My dearest Vera,

You'll be estatic to know that I am becoming a hardcore war machine, I even killed a fly the other day— on accident but I killed it nonetheless. I miss you so much at times I find myself imagining how you would react to the things I do. However, I have made some friends, Louis and Niall, we share a tent and although I have only known them for a couple of weeks we have already become very close and it scares me. War takes lives, and here I am meeting two men I should have known my whole life and as soon as we go to battle I could lose them, they could lose me, you could lose me. The thought of my mortality has felt so much more real now that I'm not hiding away with you on the bank of the River Dane...

She only realised she was crying when her tears fell onto the paper, slightly smearing the ink. She held it close to her chest and cried. Her heart ached at the thought that she might lose him.

| h a r r y |

I remember the day I met her. There was no doubt in my mind that night that everyone in the room had their eyes on her, she was the prettiest one there by far. Later on that night I found out her mind was just as beautiful.

It was the 5th of February, 1939. Mum dragged me to a party hosted by the Cromwells, a rich respected family in a slightly nicer part of Holmes Chapel. Lily and Albert Cromwell had the most well known daughter in the neighbourhood, Vera. She was 18 the first time we were introduced.

As we walked up the pathway to the Cromwell's lavish eight bedroom manor, I had thought about all the things I'd rather be doing that night. Whether it was reading a book or sitting on the banks of the River Dane— or more accurately, sitting on the banks of the River Dane whilst reading a book. Nonetheless, a night with a book in the quietest place in town seemed much more compelling than a luxurious celebration to auction off his daughter to the highest bidder, a coming out party.
That is, until I actually saw his daughter; for the very first time since she was shipped off to that fancy private school in London almost ten years ago. Although, before that, I had never uttered a single word to her. She had her social circle and I had mine, both separated by social class. That night was no different.

My mother and I made our way up to greet our hosts for the evening, she took the time to introduce herself and her "bachelor son, Harry". That comment alone made me want to forget about this party all together and do what I had wanted to do most that night. Yet, something compelled me to stay.

After a little mingling with people I had never once been acquainted with and many nonchalant glances in her direction, I finally caught her looking back at me, offering me a small smile.