Chapter One

23 June 1940

Dear Artie,
I hope this letter gets to you in time as I am missing you and I just want to hear your voice again. Only five more days left until then. I haven't been outside for days, my mother won't let me. My mother has been going hysterical whenever she's talking to my father. They both have differing opinions on where I should stay during this war. My father keeps telling my mother that I am perfectly safe staying on the island and just wait this out, while my mother has been shouting and telling him that I should be sent o live with some cousins we barely know, who all live somewhere in the Cotswolds. I don't even know which side of the family they're from but they are very rich and daddy's been moaning that we haven't got a penny from the family inheritance or other and that our cousins have the lot. Mummy's simply been ignoring him whenever he talks about them but she shouldn't since I've heard him talk nicely to them. Anyway, I hope you don't mind myself wittering on and I look forward to getting your reply.
Love
Millie.
P.S. I will dream of our shell chapel as I sleep tonight. I loved our date there.
 

25 June 1940

Dear Millie,
I am missing you too. I cannot wait to see you. My parents have been the same as your mother, but they're slowly getting around to letting me go out on walks through the town but they still don't like the thought of me being on my own in case I'm kidnapped. I have told them that I will be fine. Well, if all the posters are correct around town, we are all quite safe. If it wasn't safe to stay here then we would be made to leave. I am glad in someways as we get to see each other again. If the phones were still working, I would be calling you instead of writing you this letter. I miss you so much.
It's a shame that your cousins have your family money but at least you don't live in squaller and if you did move there, the Cotswolds is a very lovely part of England.
You weren't rambling on and I still don't mind a bit. I've also heard some news that Jersey has been occupied but I'm not taking that too seriously as it was Henry who told me and most of the time I can't trust what my brother says so I'm not fully trusting him with this. Anyway, I am nearly falling asleep as I am writing this as it is just past midnight.
I will be dreaming of our chapel and I hope we can visit there soon.
If I don't hear from you again, we shall meet at the pier.
Love
Artie.
 

30 June 1940 (Letter delivered 5 July 1940)

To my dear Artie,
I am missing you so much. I have been driving my parents spare. I thought you were at the pier waiting for me when the Germans bombed it. I am so glad to hear that you are okay. Your mother told a neighbour of yours, I can't remember thier name, who told Mr. Rivers the milkman, who's her brother, who told my mother, who then told me. I don't know if you knew that. I'm writing unnecessary garble aren't I?
I don't know if you've heard but apperently thirty four people were killed down on the pier. I feel so sorry for all their families if that's true. I wonder who they are? My mother has gotten worse, she seems to be contantly screaming about something, my father keeps telling me it's to do with the war, but how he keeps saying it makes me think it's more. Maybe she's got what Mrs. Le Tissier had. Her husband kept saying she just had a few screws loose, but I thought that sounded horrible.
I know I'm meant to make you feel better while you're in hospital, I am sure you will be out soon anyway, but I just feel so upset and scared about everything going on and you always make me feel better.
I had written you another letter for you even though I thought you were probably dead, it was silly of me, but I have folded it up with this letter.
I love you.
From your Millie.
 

29 June 1940

My darling Artie,
I haven't been able to contain myself. I've been filled with pure fear that you are dead. I didn't know what else to do to try to get myself through wondering what ahs happened to you.
We haven't spoken to anyone in the last few days so I can't find out what has happened to you and I've been told to stay indoors in the house by my mother. I am sorry if you cannot read my writing as I have tears flowing down my face as these words are written. I pray that you are safe and well.
I love you Artie.
Your Millie.
 

6 July 1940

To my lovely Millie,
I cannot be long in writing you this letter but I am sorry that you were worried about me. I didn't end up going in the end as I had caught flu and was stuck in bed. I was happy to hear that you are fine and weren't down there but I couldn't write to you until now. I am feeling much better but having flu has affected my lungs. They weren't getting enough oxygen so I fainted. I'm close to feeling as right as rain again but I haven't got there yet. A friend of my brother's was on the pier that day, but he ended up being one of the fatalities.
I do hope you are fine under the circumstances and I will be seeing you as soon as I can.
All my love from your Artie.