Free Back to Yesterday by Pamela Sparkman

“Don’t come near me. I need a minute.”
    Except for the soft whimpering from Maikel, a deafening silence filled the space. Moments passed without anyone uttering a single word. I waited for the adrenaline rush to subside and when it did, my stomach felt rotten.
    Thunder rolled in the distance and splatters of rain hit the tin roof. How appropriate that the storm outside mirrored the storm within my soul.
    I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.
    I felt a large hand on my shoulder, and a smaller hand touched my cheek. I refused to meet my comforters eye to eye. How could I? I had been seconds away from killing my friend while his son looked on.
    “It’s okay,” Levi said. “Everything is okay.”
    “No, it isn’t,” I said softly, and then listed my offenses. “I burned her letter. I almost shot you. I scared Maikel.” In defeat, I mumbled, “I’m losing my grip on sanity.”
    “I’m okay,” Maikel said. “See? I’m okay. I knew you wouldn’t shoot Papa. I was scared too. Those men always scare me when they come here.”
    Recalling how friendly Levi appeared to be with the Germans, I had to know. Still refusing to look at him, I asked, “Friends of yours, Levi?”
    Levi patted my back a couple of times and then took a deep breath. “No. They’re not my friends, but I let them think they are.” He sat down on a hay bale next to me and clasped his hands together, elbows on his knees. “I give them bits and pieces of information, not enough to endanger our allies, although enough to make them think I’m reliable and they give me information that helps…”
    When his voice trailed off, I looked up. “Helps…what?” I prompted.
    Looking down at the toes of his shoes, he said, “I’m the leader of an underground coalition that helps downed pilots find safety. We set up rendezvous points, getting them from point A to point B where we have people waiting to help them get to safe places, and ultimately back to their bases. I didn’t tell you about it because it’s dangerous and it wasn’t really an option for you. Your plan was better, getting your plane fixed and back in the air. And the fewer people who knew about you the better – for all of us.”
    “You’re risking your life,” I said, realizing for the first time what he was sacrificing.
    “And you’re risking yours.”
    Our eyes locked at that moment, and the bond we had started to build before the Germans showed up cemented itself in history that day. Levi would forever be my friend, long after this damn war was over, and I his.
    I took in a long breath of hot, humid air and let it out slowly. “They’ll be back, won’t they?”
    “Yes.”
    “When?”
    “Soon. They didn’t search my farm because they think I’m helping them, but they’ll be pressured to find the crash site, and more will come to make a formal sweep of the area. We don’t have much time, Charles. We have to get your plane fixed and get you out of here or…” He looked to his son and his eyes fell to the ground.
    Or we’re all dead.
    They’d kill Levi and Maikel if they found out he hid an American pilot on his property, and I’d be dead because I wouldn’t be taken alive.
    I slapped my hands on my knees and stood. “Let’s get back to work.”
    We fired up the forge, but not before I picked up the ashes and watched them fall between my fingers.
    “Sophie is your heart, yes?” Levi asked in a hushed voice.
    I swallowed the ache once more and mirrored his tone. “Yes.”
    “The letter…” Levi said, “was just paper. The love behind the letter can never be destroyed because it lives in here.” He pressed his palm against my chest. “And here.” His finger tapped my temple.
    I nodded, knowing he was right.
    He smiled with tight lips and I knew he was trying to bury his own ache. “Now, let’s get busy, my friend. I am making it my mission to get you home.”
    “Charles?” Maikel said.
    I cleared my throat. “Yes?”
    “Are you okay?”
    I