We sent each other letters every week, every week I would receive a new one written in his neatly written handwriting as if it were written by an angel.
We'd spent so many years apart; letters were the only way we could stay in contact. No one could send emails or text messages like the world can today. So I just had to wait for the letter, the letter that would always make my day.
We were only friends at first, that all it was nothing more, we'd been put in the same class on the first day of school, and that's how we met.
The teacher had told me to sit next to him since everyone was only allowed to sit boy girl boy girl. I guess looking back it was a way to stop the chatter in the classroom. So all the girls were separated from their group of friends and so were the boys.
But the funny thing was, was that me and him just sort of had this strange unknown connection, you know? From that day on we were inseparable.
He'd always have a way to make smile, even if I'd have had a hard day at home helping my mama and the servants with the housework. Since in those days women didn't really work, they stayed at home mostly after schooling had finished.
But then one day, all this was going to change. we met by the lake like we'd always did where we would, go down there and just sit there when there wasn't much to do, we'd talk for hours and feed the ducks.
But not this day, he had some news which meant he would have to go far away. His dad had got some work over in Germany where his family were from and was told he had to go and live there now.
I couldn't take it all in at first. We'd always had each other, and now we were going to be miles apart. An ocean apart to be exact.
That's when we swore to write a letter each and week, so then it would feel we weren't really that far apart, we were still together and were not alone.
It wasn't until we were a little older and things in teenage and adult life changed everything.
We'd been so close throughout the years that by the time our teenage years came we soon realised we were more than just friends. I loved him and he loved me. And now although we were so far apart, we knew our bond was stronger than ever.
On the day of my 18th birthday, in the morning a letter was lying there by the front door.
I knew from the writing that it was from when I picked it up and took it inside. once i opend it, the words read:
My sweet Ellie,, there's not a moment in the day that I don't think of you
There's not a moment in day that I'll stop loving you
I know that one day in the future there'll be time where we'd be together
And if god wishes to pull us apart
I'll try my upmost hardest to make sure nothing will ever come between us
All the times I've stood waiting for us to be together will be with every second from the moment I can hold you in my arms and really call you mine
I hope you have the best birthday you could possibly wish for. I only wish I could be there with you. Because, it's your birthday, a special birthday indeed, I've sent another letter that will be delivered at 6 o'clock this evening, as my give to you. I hope you'll like what's inside.
Missing you still everyday, my love.
Bill x
I couldn't stop the smile from forming across my face, neither my heart beating faster than ever in my chest.
"What another letter?!" I thought he'd never sent two in one day before. This was a surprise! For the rest of the day I'd kept my eyes firmly on the grandfather clock hanging in the dining room. I couldn't wait 'till then.
"Ellie darling, can you please come in and help me with the chores before the quests arrive!" mama called from the kitchen. You'd think you wouldn't have to do chores on your birthday right? Well I do.
I hated the fact that only women had to do the washing up and every chore in the house for that matter, even though we had servants me and mama were still expected to help out.
I found my brother Derek had the lighter end of it all, all him and father would do is sit and read the news paper and listen to the wireless all the time. I felt like they had it easy.
But hey, a girl in them days wasn't allowed to complain. But I guess it didn't matter too much at 6 o'clock that evening I was going to have something even more special on my doorstep than any of the other guests that were coming were going to give me.
You see I was born into a well lets say a rather wealthy family. My father was a top business man who did work hours and hours, before he did evitable sit in front the wireless that rest of the ay long. And because of that fact that he was a business man meant that we always had a lot of money coming through and other rich families well liked us.
And the night of my 18th was going to be my 18th birthday party as people would tend to call it nowadays. But back then it was more referred to my coming of age party. As I was 18 I was now eligible to be married. And that night I was supposed to meet my prince charming as mama called it.
But they didn't know about how I felt about Bill. It was always a secret. We had to. We just did. I guess my father wouldn't ever approve of me marrying a man that I hadn't seen for so many years and also I think he'd feel it would damage his reputation since Bill's father definitely wasn't a fellow businessman.
His father worked in factories. He didn't run them. And to my father that's a much too low status for the family to be marrying into.
So later that day when I had only two hours left to wait for my second letter from Bill. I went up to my room and got changed into what would be my evening gown, for the party. It was this beautiful golden dress that seemed to be made in silk and made me feel like one of those ladies you'd see in the movies. It was spectacular.
I sat at my mirrored desk in my room, and began writing my reply to bill, as my maid sorted out my hair for that evening.
To my dear bill, it is the same for me there's not one second that goes by that I don't think you of you either. You're my heart my soul.
You know there's nothing more right now that I wouldn't give to be in your arms. You're everything to me. How could you be so sure? I know our love is strong but there's something I haven't yet told you. Something that I think will ruin everything for us. And it breaks my heart to have to tell you. But my parents wish me to be married. And I'm supposed to meet that man this evening. I look forward to your letter this evening. I never expected that. I just hope there is some way in the world that'll shed a light, so we can for sure find out way to be together. I'll love you always Ellie x
"Ma'am people are starting to arrive and your father wishes to see you in his office before the entire hall is full" I heard another maid call to me.
She was only young I guessed at 14 we ha quite a few maids and other servants in our house working for us. I didn't really see them as maids and servants though they were more my friends.
"Thank you Marina." I smiled to her "Thanks Rachel." I said to my maid who'd been doing my hair for a while now. And then i left the room.
I wondered what my father wanted to talk about. I guessed it was about marriage or the man I was supposed to meet or the ones I was going to meet that evening, one or all of those things.
A few minutes later, made it to my fathers office. I stood there waiting for a few seconds before used my hand to reluctantly knock on the door.
"Come in!" I heard his musky voice call through the wood.
"It's me father." I said shyly. "Marina, said you wished to see me?"
