Where Bluebells Chime. Elizabeth Elgin

       1

       June 1940

      She saw Keth’s letter when the alarm jangled her awake at half-past seven and reached for it, sighing contentment, turning the envelope over to read ‘Open on 20 June’ written across the flap. It must have arrived yesterday, or the day before and Mam had hidden it away then tiptoed into her room last night to prop it against the clock.

      She gazed at the colourful American stamp and the air-mail sticker so she might stretch out the seconds before opening it, then frowned to read the postmark. Washington DC instead of Lexington as it almost always was. Why Washington? Quickly, she slit open the envelope.

      My darling,

      Happy birthday. Close your eyes and know I am thinking of you and wanting you and needing to touch and hold you.

      I miss you so much. It should not have been like this. A week ago, I sat my last exam and I