Whispers of the Moon

ve. The letter she had received that morning weighed heavily in her hands. It was from Max's family, but the contents were not what she had expected. They r

. Max is gone, and with him, any c

d her. Her thoughts wandered to the last time she had seen Max. The memory of their final moments together before he left for the fro

-a shadow of doubt, perhaps fear, that had not quite fit with the carefree world they had built

hrough her reverie. Diana turned to see the girl st

ed, forcing a smil

lding out a small, neatly folded e

y crest. She took the letter with trembling hands, wondering if it was a mistake. Perhaps

rt, cold. But the last li

officially missing in action. You are entitled to n

, falling softly to the floor. She crumpled, sinking to he

had been wrong, all along. Max wasn't coming back. The life she had once i

o call her own, Diana realized she would have to f

sive bystander in her own life. Max's death-real or imagined-had taken the last vestiges of her previous exist

on from Max's family, she was alone in a world that seemed indifferent to her suffering. She could feel the

nger. How could they do this to her? How could they forget all the promises, the love, the life they had once shared? She had thought, foolish

ughts. "Madam, there's someone at

She had no ties left to anyone. The only people she could count on were he

asked, her voice

olonel Edward Walker.

officer who had been a close associate of Max's before the war had torn their worlds apart. She had neve

oice steady despite the confusio

oom. His uniform was crisp, though his face was shadowed by weariness. He had dark eyes,

low and respectful as he bowed sligh

ing as she studied him. "Colonel Wal

l, folded piece of paper from his jacket pocke

at do you know of him?" she asked

words. "I knew Max well," he began. "He was a man of honor, but there are

hitched. "What

s is from a contact I have in Berlin. Max is alive. He's not

? Her hands trembled, and the words blurred before her eyes. The weigh

emanded, her voice shaking with both disbel

Max's disappearance was a cover-something he agreed to, something that would protect you both. But now, th

window. Max is alive. The words repeated in her mind, but the realization came wit

Diana asked, her voi

here's much you don't know, but I'll make sure