In the Night Final Part

By: Gen1900

Dresden, Germany  Date: February 13/14 (Evening-Midnight)

Emma’s quaking body slowly leaned against the  damp walls of the cellar.

Mater, Aunt Johanna, and she barely arrived at the small shelter before the street erupted in flames.

The air raid alarm seemed mute compared to the booming explosions of the bombs.

Mater sat beside Emma, smoothing her daughter’s golden locks. She concentrated  on her sweet miracle, trying to hide her fears that loomed in her mind.

A bomb let forth dirt from the upper floor, and it misted upon them. Aunt Johanna coughed harshly.

“Did you find Vater?” asked Emma shakily.

She looked up to see a trail of tears running down Mater’s pale cheeks.

“Mater, did you-” began Emma again.

Another cloud of dust billowed about Emma’s head.

“He’s . . . ,” said Mother, choking on sobs, “was there. He laid on a cot with a bloody bandage covering his head wound. His swollen eyes stared into mine and he faintly whispered, ‘Clara, my sweet.’ I was going to go and tell you the good news so that we may visit him in the morning, but . . .” Mater’s voice rang out in anguish and despair.

“The bombs got to to the hospital before I could come home . . .” Mater covered her face in her hands.

Emma sat there in a daze of shock. Vater was gone! No long would he hold her in his arms; no longer would he sing her to sleep . . .

Instead of dust, hot smoke seeped through the cracks in the walls. Soon flames followed. They appeared like red-yellow arms waiting to trap their next victims.

The three rushed up the stairs to flee, but Emma stumbled mid-way. Mater must have thought her little child was still behind her for she went on.

“Mater . . .” wheezed Emma, the smoke stinging her lungs.

Finally Mater slipped her arms around Emma and lifted her into her own embrace.

“I’d never leave you,” mumbled Mater.

They were about to run to cover when Emma heard a shrill whistle noise pierce the air.

She knew what it was, and immediately sank to her knees. Her face lifted to God, hoping He would listen to her prayer. Emma’s trembling lips started saying, “Our Father who art-”

Aunt Johanna, Mater, and Emma were received into the golden gates of heaven that night. It wasn’t long before Emma and Mater saw Vater again. Neither death, fear, nor sorrow bothered their hearts any longer . . .

Historical Fiction