Walking back from delivering some medication to one of our tenants, I decided to bike through the forest back home. The forest is the orchestra of my mind, playing one enchanting symphony after another. Her leaves dance to an unheard beat, whispering their songs to the wind. In here, sheltered by the mighty trees, is every kind of life, from the humble beetle to enchanting birds of every colour. I hold my hands up to feel the cascading light, a brilliant white shaft illuminating the path that takes me onward and home.

The forest was ancient. The trees thick and old, roots that were twisted. It might once have been filled with bird-song and animals that roamed. But now it was ages past its former glory. It's canopy was so dense that you could only see the occasional streak of sunlight that rarely touched the forest floor. Even its thick vines were slowly taking away the last remnants of the temple that stood in the centre.

As I turned the corner, the sound of moans filled my ears through the wind of the trees. The sound made me feel sick. It was a sexual moan, that made me feel so awkward as I looked to my left; seeing Celine on top of a German solider.

Her pants were on top of the Germans hat as she continued to make sexual pleasure to the man. It was not making love; I was quite sure of that. It made me feel sick. How could she do such a thing? Turning the other way, a twig snapped – breaking my cover.

"Amelia!" I heard Celine call after me as I swiftly walked with my bike in the other direction. "I suppose you will tell everyone now."

I refused to talk to the woman as I carried on walking from her. Celine raced after me; I could feel her coming closer to me.

"Oh, it's alright for you. All I do is work. If I didn't have love...I don't care where he was born. They're human, just like us" She snapped at me as I continued to get away. "And they didn't throw my family out of their home. You did that."

"That was my mother-in-law." I snapped back to her as I stopped in my tracks and turned to face her. "It's not me."

"Open your eyes Amelia." She called after me, finally giving up with chasing after me. "Our men are no better than them. Some of them are much worse. Ask your officer. He knows. Ask him what he's read in those letters."

Tears threatened my eyes as I got on my bike.

"Ask him what he's read about your husband." She yelled. "You need to know. Everybody else does."

I could not take it anymore. A tear slid down my face as I raced back to the house; desperate to know what it says in the letters. Before I could get back, a stone prevented me from getting back; throwing me off my bike as I rode fast down the small lane. Falling to the ground, I cut my knee, but that was the least of my worries. The panic, anger and upset consumed my whole body as I got back on the bike.

As I got back, I ran up the stairs; barging into the room. I picked up the envelopes that were on the table; reading them as I ripped them open. Reading things about so many different people as I looked at each one, before seeing the envelope that was sure to change my whole life forever.

Words that killed me.

*3rd Person*

While Amelia ripped open the officers letters, something she knew could get her into trouble, Bruno was doing what he had promised the woman he was curiously obsessed by.

"How did you ever let them kick you out of here?" Bruno teased his fellow officer Bonnet as he handed him a drink. The two were at the Viscounts house, where they had a lake outside their house; something no one could go near before the Germans came.

"My place is a shit-hole for sure." He laughs as he holds the drink. "Thank you."

They both look out to the lake as they admire the beauty. Yet they both missed home a lot; which was somewhere they had not been for a couple years now.

"But it has a certain charm." Bonnet sighs as he looks back to Bruno. "Oh but the farmer...The farmer's a barbarian though."

"And his wife?" Bruno asked as he looked to Bonnet seriously.

"More attractive than tonight's hostess, that's for sure." He smirks. "Why do you ask?"

Bruno looks to the man with a raised eyebrow as he stops drinking.

"Fuck off." Bonnet snaps as he scoffs, getting closer to Bruno. "Who are you? My big brother?"

"Don't get too close." Bruno glares, scaring Bonnet slightly – not that he would admit.

"Don't lecture me about morality." Bonnet digs as he steps back. "You weren't so sensitive when we were rounding up prisoners with orders to shoot the stragglers."

"I didn't shoot any of them." Bruno snaps as he looks to Bonnet.

"But I did." Bonnet smirks as Bruno frowns in disgust. "With delight too. And you never said a word."

"We were at war." Bruno steps forward to his fellow commanding officer.

"-We still are, Lieutenant." Bonnet snaps as he interrupts the officer; finally walking away from Bruno.

Amelia's POV

Heart break is a funny thing. We all know it's going to happen, yet we're never prepared for it. We underestimate its power. It's like giving a murder a gun, and expecting not to be killed. Why are we never ready for it? Because we're in denial. We believe it won't happen. We believe the murderer will not kill us. We believe if we give him our hearts he will not crush it. Hearts shouldn't be crushed. They should be cherished and protected. I wish someone would have told you that. I wish you could've known. I wish you would have cherished and protected my heart.

"How long have you known?" I cried out as I heard the heavy footsteps of Bruno come close to me; clutching onto the piece of paper that had just shattered my heart, making me rethink everything.

"I didn't feel entitled to tell you." Bruno looked down as I turned to face him; with tear streaks down my face. The pain killed me as I looked to the man, knowing he knew; everyone else did.

"Amelia?" I heard Madame call as she saw me in Bruno's room.

"You knew, didn't you?" I snap angrily, tears still flowing down my face. "That your perfect son has been having an affair that was going on before we even met."

I showed her the piece of paper, with the heart rendering words on it and lifted up my hand, pointing my finger to her in anger.

"You should see how many of those are about you." I broke down, my heart breaking with every word I spoke. "You always say how much you want a grandchild. Now you've got one. Her name's Simone."

I slammed the door so she could no longer hear or see anything. My head was spinning with so many different emotions; I did not know which one to choose. They all smacked me at once.

"You can keep your stupid little secrets." I cry to him as I barge into him, shoving the piece of paper into his hands. "I couldn't care less."

With that, I walked into my room. Slamming the door behind me, not wanting to hear or see another person for a while. I hated it. Yet I only blamed myself.

iledtPA7