12 DOC || Till the Dawn Breaks|| part one

Often when people tell war stories the main characters ultimately accomplish some huge and seemingly unattainable goal. But sometimes I think that one of the hardest things a person can do is simply live their life, although every.Single. Thing about has changed. Perhaps the greatest and most rewarding stories are not The most thrilling or adventurous, but maybe it’s about the unbearable hardships of the monotonous and fearful lives the people at home glad. Waiting for death hoping for life.

I hope you guys enjoy this story :)



November 1918

November had come again. The long snowy days that stretched one after another seeming to never end. At least that’s what 19 year old Evelyn Grant thought to herself as she opened the door of her home and stepped out into a white wonderland. 

 The cold air rushed over her, pulling the gray woolen scarf tighter around her face she began walking down the snow packed road.


Will this dreadful winter ever end? She thought to herself. The wind was coming off the harbor in icy sheets that cut through the layers of clothing and chilled a body to the bone.


 “Blast this ice.” She muttered under her breath almost falling on a slippery patch of road. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was tired of the pain, tired of wondering and waiting. always waiting. tired of being alone. Tired of holding back three years worth of tears for the sake of being strong.Tired of feeling helpless. What was the use of knitting socks and tearing up sheets for bandages when she could be out at the front helping the war effort.


This was what she had told her father Adam Grant three years ago. She was almost 17 after all. She had pleaded with him to let her go but her father had shook his head.


 “ no my dear, your mother can’t have one more child to lie awake at night and worry about. Two boys at the front, Elsie away at nursing school and, Sarah married and living so far away. No stay home and be a comfort to your mother through these trying days.” So that what Evelyn had done, all because she was the baby of the family. She had stayed and watched her two brothers leave perhaps never to be seen again. She had stayed home while her older sister Elsie went over England to care for her wounded fiancée. and when Sara who had Been happily married only a few months before the war began, was given word that her Husband had died in battle of Vimy on the Ridge. She and little Charles Jr had come to say in Glenwood Harbor with her family.


 They welcomed her with open arms. Evelyn felt even more helpless after that. Sara had taken over most of her work leaving only a small amount of chores to occupy the long days. Of course there where social outings to go to and plan but the crowd was so much smaller then of years before. Most of the boys had left and many girls were often to busy volunteering for the war effort to spend their time on frivolous activities.


At first Evelyn spent most of her days moping around the house and writing letter to her brothers. The gradually she found her place, one night she had been invited to A Red Cross meeting and though knitting stockings was the very thing she despised doing she gritted her teeth and dove into it with a grim satisfaction. Besides it was nice to get out and see some other girls for once, she reasons with herself. Even though all they did was talk about their sweethearts and fiancés fighting in the war. Although she outwardly scoffed at those conversations Deep in her heart she understood their need to express their fears and emotions. Hadn’t she promised handsome dark haired Jackson Blake the night before he left for training she wouldn’t marry another man till he returned.


He had kissed her there under the willow by the spring. It was her first kiss and for a week she went around with a secret smile on her lips. She slept with his love letters under her pillow every night and awaited each mail delivery with hopeful anticipation. She had lived these emotions for three years. Hopelessness and yet hope.


“How much more am I supposed to be able to bare”. She whispered, Her breath leaving a cloud of white in the air.


She was tired of being afraid every morning that this would be the day that news would come of Lieutenant Jackson Blake death and shatter the dreams she held so dear to her heart. Jack who always knew how to make her laugh, who understood her better than she did herself. It was utterly impossible to even consider that he would not be with her and yet, she awoke every morning with one thought in the front of her mind. Is Jack still alive? Please God let him be.


What was it that mother had said the other day when we heard of yet another tragedy. She had looked at Evelyn and Sara with such sad, courageous eyes and said.


“My dear girls let us not forget that there is a God who knows and is much wiser than any man could ever be. So when news like this comes remember the He will give you courage to keep the Faith. Never forget that we must keep the Faith.”


If only it was that easy. Evelyn though. If only I was strong like mother and Sara. But no I will be strong. Things have to change sometime. They must. I will just be like mother encouraged and keep the Faith.


Her thoughts rambled on in such a fashion as she made her way up the step of the Glenwood Harbor General store.


She was greeted or, more like assaulted by a blue eyed girl who pounced on her the moment she walked through the door.


“My goodness Evelyn you’re just the person I’ve been meaning to call on. I’ve been wanting to fly down to see you folks but the store has been so busy these last few days. What with everyone buying Christmas presents to send over for their boys.” Pushing back a strand of her golden hair from her face she continued. “isn’t this just the greatest of luck, You’ve certainly saved me a miserable walk down to your place.”


Although Mary Stewart was 3 years older than Evelyn she was one of her closest friends. Evelyn’s sister Elsie and Mary had been chums, both being the same age and a mischievous spark in them they soon became inseparable. When Elsie left for college Mary had picked up being Evelyn’s older sister for Elsie. Often She could be overbearing and annoying with her know it all attitude and at times Evelyn had cried bitter and angry tears over Her stinging rebukes, but Mary was to her as part of her life and family, as any of her other siblings. No one if asked would have called Mary pretty, her face was to narrow, her nose to pointy (all the Stewarts had noses like that you know) and that weird way the one side of her mouth curved into a wry smile was quite strange. But her eyes, if ever there were beautiful eyes Mary Stewart had them. They were the strangest eyes, seeming to change color like the wind, sometimes they were a sliver blue, other days they were a winter gray. She was the type of person that once met was never forgotten.


Mary was a part of Glenwood Harbor as anyone ever could be. She had lived in the town all her life, her father owned the general store. Consequently she always new the latest gossip and news. Mary’s mother had died only a few years after she was born and for a good many years of her life Mary had been free to roam wherever she please often finding herself in dreadful scrapes. Well meaning women of the Village had tried to train this wild tomboy of a girl but to no avail. She spoke her mind with gusto and when she set her mind to do something heaven and earth could not change her opinion. Towns people gave up on her ever becoming a proper woman but slowly as Mary grew the wild, reckless girl was replaced with a confident and opinionated woman. She even had a fiancé, Carl Edwards a rather short fellow with a friendly face. But according to Mary there was no one else in the world half as good as her Carl.


Undeterred by Mary’s stream of chatter Evelyn nearly smiled and pulled off her gloves.


“Well then I’m glad I saved you the trip. It was cold and my hands are about frozen stiff.”


“You know I do believe its going to snow again.” Mary lamented gazing out the window.


Clear across Mary’s dismal voice cut the telephone ring. Mary’s father answered it.


“Yes- what, what? Is it true- is it official? Thank you! Yes goodbye.”


He turned and faced the few shoppers who were all staring at him wondering what that was all about.


Mary as always was the first to speak. “What was that all about Father?”


He looked at her a strange expression on his worn face. “That my dear was a call from the newspaper. It seems as though Germany and Austria are suing for peace. It seems that The Great War is over.”


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Part two on Monday! 

How are the last few days before Christmas going? Any last minute shoppers out there?!?