Chapter 45: Closure

Adda would never visit the concentration camps with Maria, but she would with her own grandchildren in the many years to come. It would be one of the hardest moments of her life to visit such a site of horror and to imagine the acts that had cruelly taken place in the vicinities, however surrounded by her own family was one of the most reassuring balms she could ask for in those moments. Having married her husband Freddie aged twenty, they had both entered the teaching profession. Focusing her interests in history, Adda also took an additional interest in the teaching of the treatment of Jews in Europe during the recent war, and in years to come would lecture about her own experiences and the findings she had made across the years about her own family. Whilst the pain never faded, alongside it grew another feeling. It was hard to place the feeling or to define it, but she explained to Maria one afternoon when she had returned home for a weekend that she felt as though teaching people of these actions, and teaching about how relatively easily it was allowed to happen, in the hopes that it would never happen again. Maria had kissed her cheek and wrapped her in an embrace proudly.

Instead of their original promise to visit the sites of the camps in Europe, at their home they decided to plant a tree of remembrance for her mother. A trip back to their home continent had been suggested albeit briefly, but with Klaus and Eleanor still being so young and the current political climate in a state of insecurity, even four years later, it had been an unanimous decision to forego. Maria had also confessed to Georg beneath the privacy of their bed sheets that whilst she longed to be back on her mountain one day, back in their birth home, she also feared it beyond comprehension. The thought of their beautiful homeland having been changed, been scarred by past events that had gone beyond everyone's control was enough to make them appreciate the new home they had now.

Memorials to the victims, however, of the devastations across Europe had begun to grow across the countries most affected. There were a few in America, a symbol for those who had escaped the persecutions and found a new life across the Atlantic. It was to one of these that Maria and Georg decided to take Adda as a reminder of their promise years ago.

The three of them arrived there on a cloudy Tuesday afternoon.

Maria placed her hand on her daughter's back, "How are you feeling? Would you like to do this alone?"

Adda was silent for a moment, simply looking at the monument that had been erected. After a minute or so, however, she nodded. "Yes. But would you join me in a few minutes?"

Maria nodded, and the two of them watched her approach in silence. Georg came behind Maria and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. He felt a burning pride in his chest at the trials Adda had

fought and won during her small life. He was proud of all their children.

Liesl had finished university and was happily married to Charlie. Maria and he were also expecting their third grandchild in but a few months. Friedrich was still in the army, but stationed back in America for the time being. He had been posted in Europe several times but thankfully since the birth of the twins, Agathe and Isobel, Friedrich had been home a lot more. Louisa was still at university, in her last year of studies, and wanted to go abroad and teach languages when she graduated. Kurt had taken a job after graduating from school in a mechanic's garage. Brigitta had finished a draft of her first book at the age of twenty two and had also been courting a young man for the past couple of years. Marta and Gretl were both close to graduating from school and were looking forward to attending respective universities. Stefan was nearing the end of elementary school, Klaus was about to start school and little Eleanor was taking her small firsts in life, much to the delight of her parents and siblings. Klaus had grown to be the spitting image of Georg whilst Eleanor looked as though she was turning into Maria's duplicate.

Georg and Maria were proud of all of their children's endeavours in life and had vowed to help them achieve any dreams they wished to reach. They liked to think their daughters could become anything they wanted to be, and not restrained by any societal expectations they might have grown up with only decades before. And they were being proven right.

"She's done us proud," Georg spoke quietly as they watched Adda knelt before the monument, her head bowed.

"They all have," Maria smiled. "They've all coped so well with everything that was thrown at them." Maria settled herself into her husband's side, finding the usual solace she sought there. "The world has been so unkind to them as of late, to everyone, but we can be proud that they've shirked off the dark clouds."

Just as Maria was speaking, a ray of sunlight shone from a hole in the clouds. It was rather fitting.

Seeing Adda's shoulders begin to shake lightly, Maria felt a familiar tug, and decided it was time to join her. Georg subconsciously realised the same and withdrew his arm from around her, letting her go forward and join their daughter. He watched as Maria brushed her hand across Adda's back.

"I hope she knows I'm happy, and looked after." Adda spoke softly.

"She does," Maria guaranteed. "She'll be looking over you. She'll know you've found a home that loves you, and will do anything to protect you."

Adda turned to her mother and smiled.

They stayed there for a while longer, straying into conversation about anything that came to their minds, from their times back in Austria, Adda relaying tales of her mother, and their new memories in America. Georg came over to join them after a while, participating in the memories and expressing his excitement at the new memories the future would bring. The three of them stood there until the clouds parted and the sun took rule of the sky once more.

Last author's note: I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who has ever followed this story, even back in 2012 when I first started this (which is actually pretty frightening, where on earth is time going?!) I'm not entirely pleased with this ending, but it got to the stage when I just wanted it posted, and I thought this story deserved an end sooner rather than later. I'm so grateful for all those who have followed this and reviewed for the past FIVE years, it's an insane amount of time to have a story running, and I think if I've learnt anything from this it's to kick myself into gear more often and not take so long. If I've inadvertently left any questions unanswered with this story that anyone has a burning desire to know, please do feel free to message me. But for now, just another huge thank you! I've really enjoyed writing this story!