Conclusion of the Nutcracker

The soft music filled the air around us as I danced with my husband, the same elegant tune I knew by heart that played whenever the Sugar Plum Fairy visited our court. All our subjects and visitors had left a few moments ago, and now it was just me and Hans, the man once cursed to be a Nutcracker. He picked me up and held me in the air as if we were putting on a performance for no one but ourselves.

Every night we danced a ballet around the castle. I never needed to think about the steps or worry about wearing out my pointe shoes; they never did wear thin and my feet were never sore. It was simply one of the magics of this world that I had grown used to.

It had been years since I needed to worry about such small things, perhaps more than a decade? I couldn’t be sure. I could still picture how this had all started, my beloved toy coming to life and protecting me during the battle against the horrid Rat King. How I was shrunk down to their size, or perhaps the world grew around me the moment the small war started. A battle that had been going on since the day the two enemies met, and I had seen the end of it.

Months passed by in a blink of an eye, and by the time we had traveled through the wintery fields that belonged to the Snow Queen and King and arrived in the land of sweets, I wanted nothing more than to be his bride. Not that my Hans had wasted anytime in proposing.

He set me down and placed a loving hand to my cheek which I leaned into with a smile. I loved every second with him. This place of candy and magic had long become my home, and even if we weren’t the crowned Rulers, I never wanted to leave.

“I love you,” I told him for what must have been the millionth time today.

He smiled back and rested his forehead against mine. “I love you too.”

We held each other close, my arms wrapped around him as we swayed to the music that slowly faded out. There would be another day of restoring peace to my Nutcracker’s sugary Kingdom tomorrow; even with the Rat King and his servants long gone there was still damage that needed to be fixed. This land had gone years without their King when Hans was trapped in that wooden form. I was told it was nothing short of a miracle that my love turned him human again, but I never thought much of it. I loved him and would do anything I could to help, it was as simple as that.

Hans slightly pulled away, his arm still around my waist. He gazed lovingly into my eyes for a few moments, but when he looked past me, he froze. Worry danced across my features as I wondered what he could have possibly seen before I turned to look for myself.

In the archway stood a tall man, his form covered by a large black cloak. His expression was blank, and his bald head was the only distinguishing trait I could see from here. I was thrown off as a wave of familiarity washed over me the longer I looked at this man.

“Uncle Drosselmeyer?” I asked, my voice filled with uncertainty.

My godfather simply gave me a small smile and opened his arms wide for a hug like he had done countless times when I was younger. The fabric of his cloak draped over his arms like bat wings. It had been years since I saw him, not since the night all of this happened.

I kissed my husband on the cheek before I ran into the familiar embrace.

Herr Drosselmeyer held me close as I could feel the tears prick at my eyes, it had been so long.

“Are you ready to go home?” He asked, his voice just as I remembered.

My head spun as memories of my past were brought back into the light, but I still looked at him confused. “I am home.”

He let out a small laugh as he exhaled through his nose and scooped me up into his arms. I rested my head on his shoulder without a second thought. He turned to leave our throne room and Hans didn’t say anything, he barely moved. All I could see was his expression slowly falling.

“Are you not coming with us?” I asked my husband, even though I couldn’t see him anymore now that I had been carried quite a bit.

“No,” Uncle Drosselmeyer answered for him. “He’s staying here.”

Something felt off about the way he said it, but I was still getting used to having him back to think much of it. It would take a bit before I relearned what each tone of his voice meant.

Godfather carried me towards the large double doors that lead outside. “Wouldn’t you like to see the castle?” I asked with a slight yawn. I was suddenly tired and seemed to get sleepier the farther we went from my husband.

“There’s no time for that Child. It’s time to bring you home.”

The entrance opened as we approached, however, I couldn’t see anything outside, it was difficult to keep my eyes open. I opened my mouth to say something, but I drifted off the second we crossed the threshold.

* * *

My head felt like it was spinning and my whole body felt sore…no, it was more than that- it felt wrong. I placed a hand on my head as I slowly worked to sit up. I hadn’t drank anything in ages, there was no reason for me to be feeling like this.

I blinked open my eyes and prayed the haze that seemed to cover my mind would fade soon. Large glass windows and doors greeted my vision, dusted in a layer of thick snow. I stared at them in confusion, there weren’t any rooms like this in the castle but it seemed so familiar.

I sat up straighter, my eyes widened in recognition. Something poked at my back and I immediately turned around; a large Christmas tree covered in ornaments and tinsel stood up to the ceiling behind me. This wasn’t possible- How could I be in my childhood home?

The plush bench I always used to fall asleep on during the Holidays almost tipped over as I scrambled off it. Everything was exactly as I remembered it: the tree, the decoration, the glass cabinet filled with mine and my brother’s toys against a wall.

Had godfather brought me here? Where was he? And where was Hans? I looked frantically around the room for my husband as I did my best not to panic, surely he was here somewhere.

My gaze fell to the floor after a few moments of searching, and that was when I noticed the small wooden nutcracker next to the bench. No- It couldn’t be. I sank to the floor and cradled the toy in my arms, the same silk handkerchief tied around its neck like I had done years ago. This couldn’t be Hans- I refused to believe that my husband was cursed to be in this form again.

Tears pricked at my eyes. Why was all this happening? This had to be a dream. I refused to let years and the love of my life slip through my fingers like this.

“Hans? Please tell me this isn’t you. Come back to me Hans,” I sobbed to the doll in my arms.

I cried more when I was met with no response.

Wind made the glass doors shutter but I paid no attention to them. For all I knew my husband was practically dead, a cold breeze drifting through the house was the least of my worries. My love had turned him human once before, why wasn’t it working now?

Someone cleared their throat from across the room and I looked up with blurry eyes. Harr Drosselmeyer stood in the corner of the room near the grandfather clock; he still had the large black cloak draped over him. “Clara,” he said as more of a statement than a question.

I held the nutcracker closer to my chest as tears fell down my face. “Why am I here? Why would you bring me back?”

His face didn’t show any emotions, just the slight hint of sympathy in his voice. “I brought you to that world as a gift, but it was time to go home.”

“That land was my home-!” I said, my voice breaking as I spoke. “I’m their Queen. I have people I need to help, I have a husband!”

The same look, nothing more than slight pity. “Not anymore. Go to bed Clara.”

I quickly rose to my feet, the wooden doll still clutched against my chest. It was the only thing I currently had of my precious Hans. “You can’t bring me back here after a decade and expect me to go to bed without questions.”

But apparently he did. My godfather disappeared in a blink of an eye. I raced towards the grandfather clock, but he was nowhere to be seen.

“Uncle Drosselmeyer!” I commanded, my voice ringing through the parlor. But I already knew it was a useless attempt. He wouldn’t come back, at least not tonight.

I could feel my world crumble around me. How could he do this to me? Godfather was the one who gave me the nutcracker in the first place, he was there during the battle with the Rat King, he- he smiled at me and Hans before we left for the Land of Sweets. I never saw him after that until years later and now he forced me back to “reality”. I felt sick.

Footsteps echoed at the top of the stairs. “Clara? Are you still up Dear?”

More emotions than I could process flooded over me. Mother. It had been so long since I had seen her; or Father and Fritz. Would she even recognize me after all this time?

She appeared at the top of the stairs, a soft smile on her face. The sight of her was enough to make tears form in my eyes. How had I gone so long without seeing her? Mother made her way to the parlor, her nightgown trailed on the floor behind her. She was just as I remembered.

She gave me a concerned look. “Clara Dear, are you all right?” Mother placed a hand on my cheek and wiped away the tears that had fallen as I looked up at her.

But that couldn’t be right- I had grown over the years, I should be almost the same height as her by now. Yet as far as I could tell I was no taller than the last time I saw her; when I was a child. Surely she hadn’t grown as well?

I looked down at my appearance for the first time since I had been brought here. I no longer wore the elegant light pink gown I had on when I was dancing with my husband. Instead, it was a white party dress covered in layers of tulle and a red ribbon…the same outfit I wore the night everything happened.

No… It can’t be- I couldn’t be a child again. I had grown up, I’d gotten married, I rule a Kingdom. Hans and I celebrated my twenty-fourth birth only a few months ago. How could I be twelve again?

Mother clearly wasn’t aware of the distress that ran through my brain. “Let’s get you to bed. It’s far too late for you to be up,” she said gently.

I didn’t know what else to do but follow her upstairs to my childhood bedroom.

Nothing had changed. The walls were still a nice cream color and the shelves full of my books and toys hadn’t even gathered a layer of dust. It was as if I never left. She sat me down on the bed, the soft pink comforter wrinkled underneath me.

She kissed the top of my head. “I’ll see you in the morning. Get some rest Dear.”

“Good night Mother,” my voice sounded hollow, but once again she didn’t seem to notice.

She lit the lantern on my nightstand and left the room without another word, closing the door behind her.

I kept the wooden nutcracker close to my chest. It was the only thing I had left of Hans. I still refused to believe this could be real. Even with everything I had seen, the thought of somehow being a child again was too much. Surely if I continued to tell myself this wasn’t happening sooner or later I would wake up in my proper bed, next to my husband, and I could tell him all about the horrible dream I had. But part of me already knew that wouldn’t happen.

I laid down on the bed and pulled the blanket up to my shoulders; I didn’t care if I slept in the party gown. Right now night clothes were the least of my concerns. I hated that I didn’t know what happened to Hans.

Was he still at home, left to wonder when I would return? Was he somewhere in this town forced into a child’s body as well? Or was he truly this nutcracker again? Cursed to think and see everything around him, but never able to talk or move on his own. As much as I wanted to believe I currently held my husband, I prayed that wasn’t the case. He didn’t deserve to go through that again. He never should have gone through that in the first place.

Tears fell down my face now that I was alone. My mind slowly tried to figure out everything that had happened. I needed to see Uncle Drosselmeyer, there were so many questions and I demanded answers. But it was painfully clear he wouldn’t come tonight; there was nothing I could do right now.

First thing tomorrow I would summon him to the house, and if he didn’t show I would walk to his home if I had to, no matter how long it took. But I would need rest for that. As sick as I felt at the thought of doing nothing, any plan I could think of would need to wait until morning.

My eyes were heavy from the tears and exhaustion that washed over me. Even if it would be horrible sleeping in a bed alone after all these years, I knew weariness would win rather quickly, and I was right. I drifted off after a few moments, the nutcracker still pressed against my heart.

* * *

The pattern of how mornings went when I was younger quickly came back as one of our maids, Louisa today, drew open my curtains and let sunlight pour into the room. She laid out a new dress and garments and ushered me to wash up before breakfast.

The washroom was the same. The hallway was the same. Everything about this house was exactly as I remembered no matter how dim those memories had become. It gave me horrible déjà vu.

The scent of eggs and sausage filled the air as I got closer to the kitchen. Everyone was already seated at the table, and part of me couldn’t help but wonder if I had slept in later than I was supposed to. I didn’t remember our old schedules anymore, and I hardly knew what time it was currently. Too many things ran through my head to even think about checking the time.

The fresh pot of coffee calmed my nerves the smallest bit when I spotted it, at least I could wake myself up a little more. I grabbed a cup and started to pour myself a glass.

“What are you doing?” Father asked.

I couldn’t help but look a little confused. “I’m getting a drink,” I answered. What was wrong with that?

“You’re well aware coffee isn’t for children, Clara.”

I wanted to tell him that I was hardly a child, but as much as the comment infuriated me I was well aware how foolish I would look if I said that aloud. I hated how I was back in this twelve year old body.

The glass was plucked out of my hand and replaced with a cup of tea before I could say anything. I had nothing against the black tea we always had at meals, but this was certainly a day that required more caffeine to get through it.

I would grab some later, right now I just needed to make it through breakfast. I took my spot at the table across from Fritz.

He hadn’t aged at all but at this point I wasn’t sure what I had expected. His toy sword leaned against the chair and he had on his blue soldier hat Father gifted him…I supposed last night. Fritz talked excitedly about all the battles he had planned out with his toy men and the friends he would compete in “dangerous” sword fights with.

He hadn’t changed at all, and I was surprised to see this slightly bothered me. I had grown up, I had matured. It was strange to see that he hadn’t done the same, but at the same time I wasn’t sure I could picture him acting any other way.

I suddenly remembered how he had tried to play with my wooden nutcracker and accidentally ripped its head off. There was no way he could have known the nutcracker was alive, and it really didn’t hurt Hans. But that didn’t stop me from feeling the slightest tinge of anger at the memory.

“You’re so quiet Dear,” my mother commented. “Did you sleep well?”

I hadn’t paid attention to their conversation and struggled to remember what the topic of discussion even was. I thought I had gotten better at zoning out while still being aware of what was going on around me, it was a rather useful skill some days as a Queen. But I suppose not.

I nodded, “Yes, although I’m still a bit tired.” The coffee would have helped with that.

“I’m sure you can rest some more once we’re finished eating if that’s what you would like.”

“Thank you Mother.”

I didn’t say much else during the remainder of our meal. I honestly wasn’t sure what else to say. I felt trapped in the decision of attempting to act as I did when I was a child like they expected or simply act as I normally would and tell them the truth if they asked about a change. But I would most likely be sent to an asylum if I did that.

Another maid, Bethany, cleared all of our dishes the moment we finished eating and quickly refilled my tea. Hans and I had servants at the castle but even though the situation was similar everything seemed slightly off. Had Father always insisted the table be cleared so quickly?

Mother politely placed her napkin in front of her and rose from her seat. “I should start preparations if I’d like to get everything done in time for dinner.”

That caught my attention. “Is Uncle Drosselmeyer joining?” I asked quickly. It was Christmas Day, and I knew he should be in town. I needed to talk to him as soon as possible.

Fritz grinned at the idea, “Can he? It’s much more fun when he’s around.”

Mother and Father shared a glance; no one ever truly knew what would happen when it came to Herr Drosselmeyer.

“We can certainly ask,” Father told us.

My brother looked rather pleased at that answer and I couldn’t help but feel relieved. With any luck I should be able to get things back to the way they’re supposed to be by nightfall.

We were all dismissed from the table and I quickly made my way up to my old room. I couldn’t stand being away from my nutcracker, but I didn’t want to raise any questions by bringing it down with me. There was no easy way to explain that I was almost positive my husband, whom they didn’t know I had, had been cursed into the form of a wooden toy again.

Relief washed over me when I saw he was still on the bed where I had left him. I sat down and moved the doll onto my lap.

“Oh Hans, I’m sure I can convince Uncle Drosselmeyer to send us back. I’ll make sure I find a way.”

There wasn’t a response. I hadn’t expected one, but unfortunately that didn’t make the lack of hearing his voice any easier to cope with.

If I absolutely needed to, I would find a way to accept that I had to be a child again, that I would need to redo almost a decade of my life. But I couldn’t bear the thought that Hans might be trapped like this once again. He had told me what it had been like to be cursed to be a nutcracker, and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.

I carefully untied the silk handkerchief from around his neck and placed it to the side. It really didn’t do anything to make sure the wooden head stayed on, it was simply a gesture to help calm me from my tears back then. I appreciate the attempt.

The rabbit fur of his fake hair felt soft between my fingers. It felt similar to his black locks, but it wasn’t the same. Of course it wouldn’t be the same.

I wasn’t sure what to do. I couldn’t simply pick up where this life had left off, I had no desire to be a child again. I had been through far too much to act like a clueless little girl. But even as a former Queen there was nothing I could do until Uncle Drosselmeyer arrived; he was the one who started all of this.

The bed slightly creaked under me as I laid down, perhaps some rest would do me some good. I could drift off and pray when I woke up it would be time for Christmas dinner.

I didn’t care about any of the many presents under the tree, although part of me was a little curious to see what twelve year old me had wanted so badly. My family always gave more gifts than I could count, but my husband and I simply did a single present each year. My favorite was a gold heart shaped locket that I never took off, but it didn’t travel back here with me. As far as I could tell everything that came from the Land of Sweets had to stay in that land.

The doll felt natural in my arms as if I was always meant to hold it, but it did little to stop the way my stomach turned at it not truly being Hans.

Only a few more hours and then this could all be over, I reminded myself over and over again as I slowly drifted off to sleep.

* * *

I woke to a soft knock as Lunetta slowly pushed open the door.

“Miss Stahlbaum? I was told to inform you your godfather has arrived.”

I sat up the moment I processed her words. “Thank you Lunetta- I’ll be down shortly.”

The maid nodded and closed the door behind her.

I wasn’t sure what time it was but that hardly mattered. He had arrived, and I could finally get all of this taken care of; I wouldn’t let him leave until he agreed to send me back. I held my nutcracker close as I made my way down the stairs, it took all my self-control not to run. As much as I wanted to rush, my parents hated when we ran in the house, I could spare a few seconds.

Herr Drosselmeyer stood near the bottom of the staircase, him and Father in conversation. It sounded like they spoke of his newest invention; normally I would have loved to hear about it as well, but I had more pressing matters at hand.

They turned before I had reached the bottom step.

“Glad to see you up and about, are you feeling better my dear?” Father asked.

I nodded, “very much. Would it be all right if I spoke with Uncle for a bit?”

My godfather’s expression was unreadable, but Father gave a small chuckle. “Of course, I’ll go see if your mother needs any help finishing up in the kitchen.”

He placed a hand on Drosselmeyer’s shoulder before he left the room, my smile dropped once he was out of sight.

“Send me back.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Clara.”

I could feel the irritation stir within me. “You were the one who sent me there in the first place, I know you were.”

“I was,” he confirmed, but he didn’t say anything else.

“If you sent me there once then you can do it again,” I said firmly.

He looked me over, and part of me wondered how he saw me. He knew I had changed; he saw for himself how much I had aged. But I had a feeling I was still a twelve year old child to him.

“I don’t have enough magic to send you back, just as I didn’t have enough magic to keep you there.”

I could feel my world start to fall apart. That couldn’t be true, I refused, there had to be a way to return to the Land of Sweets. I wouldn’t leave my husband just because this man told me it wasn’t possible to go back.

“Why would you even send me there if you were just going to rip me away from the life I had made?” I asked, unable to stop the annoyance from seeping into my voice.

His expression softened the smallest bit. “I gave you the gift you always wanted. I let you grow up, experience love, learn what it was like to live inside a fairytale.”

“And you took it away! If you knew this would happen from the start then it was never a gift, it was an act of cruelty,” I hissed. I no longer cared if anyone heard our conversation. They could think I was crazy all they wanted because I had started to feel that way. “I fell in love-! I had people who relied on me, I had a purpose. And you ripped all of that away-” My heart raced in my chest. “Now the man I love most is trapped as a nutcracker because of you-!”

Uncle Drosselmeyer stood there quietly as I had my little outburst and waited a few seconds to make sure I had finished speaking. “That toy isn’t your husband.”

Everything inside me shattered. Five words and I felt like I could no longer breathe. I knew there was the possibility, and under no circumstance did I want Hans to be trapped like this- But how could this not be? It was the same doll that he had transformed from all those years ago; the handkerchief was still around his neck when I found him.

My hands shook as I held the nutcracker closer to my chest. “How could you know that?”

“There are many things I can do Clara, but lying to you is not one of them.”

Tears pricked at my eyes, I really did have nothing left of my husband. I didn’t know how I would get home. I had no way to know what happened to my Hans. For all I knew he was waiting for me to come back, but it would never happen. I choked back a sob, what if he thought I had left him?

I sank to my knees and openly wept on the staircase. I didn’t care how unqueenly it was or if it would be viewed as childish; everything I loved had been taken away from me. I was allowed a few tears.

Uncle Drosselmeyer placed a hand on my shoulder. “The pain will fade, Dear. Soon this will be nothing more than a memory.”

That felt like the worst thing he could have said. “I will feel this way forever if I have to live without him. Hans is my husband, and nothing you can do will change that.”

He looked at me almost as if he were disappointed, but he didn’t say anything else.

* * *

I don’t know when I fainted or why. It might have been from the pure despair I felt, or perhaps Drosselmeyer made me if that was something he was capable of. All I knew was when I awoke I was back in bed, my right arm was wrapped in bandages. Mother said I had a fever and injured my elbow when I collapsed. I would be on bedrest until the doctor cleared me but that was all right; I had no desire to do anything anymore.

The nutcracker doll stood on my nightstand, only an arms length away, but I no longer knew if I wanted to reach for it. It felt wrong to not have it in my embrace, but if it truly wasn’t Hans…what was the point?

Everyone flowed in and out of my room as the days went on. Fritz wanted to make sure I was all right, although I could tell he was disappointed our parents wouldn’t let him open all the presents until we could do it as a family.

Mother had brought me one of the many boxes with my name on it, but she didn’t bring anymore when I left it unopened. I wasn’t in the mood for any more “gifts”. Father brought me a mug of coffee with breakfast which did make me feel a little better, I gave him a small smile in return. But I wasn’t sure how I could honestly enjoy anything with the knowledge Hans would most likely never be by my side again. The idea was too painful to think about.

The doctor came in a few days later to fully remove my bandages; there was a small bruise and a faint scar from where my elbow must have hit the edge of the stairs, but I could move it just fine. My fever had faded as well, although they were concerned I didn’t leap for joy at the knowledge I could end my bedrest tomorrow.

Drosselmeyer had left the day after our conversation, which I had been surprised to learn no one else had heard, although I supposed that was for the best. My parents didn’t need to hear their child yell about magic and being married. They already didn’t like it when we clung onto fantasy a little too much and there was no way they would ever believe what I had gone through, even if I got Uncle Drosselmeyer to tell them it was true.

As far as they knew I was simply their little girl, and I had fallen sick. They didn’t need to know how much I hated being in this house. Just as I had quickly forgotten about my life here when I traveled to the Land of Sweets, the memories of my Kingdom slowly became harder to recall. I couldn’t stand the idea that one day it might be gone forever.

Father had given me a notepad upon request and I wrote down everything I could, I only stopped when I had used up all the ink or my hand was too sore to hold the quill. It took two days before I had to ask for more parchment. I knew they were concerned for my sanity.

I had moved the nutcracker to lay next to me in the bed, propped up against the pillows. My stomach twisted whenever I looked at it but I couldn’t bear the thought of putting it somewhere else. It really was all I had left of that world.

After a week of my behavior Mother said I was allowed to stay in bed, as long as I came down for meals. I simply nodded my head. I knew I couldn’t act this way forever and I hate how concerned I must have made them. But it was hard to do anything when it felt like your heart had shattered into a million pieces.

I didn’t say anything as we ate and only gave short responses when spoken too. My parents didn’t press too much, they must have seen this as an improvement since I was out of my bedroom, but I knew that patience wouldn’t last much longer. I would mourn the separation from my husband for as long as I was alive, unfortunately, I knew I couldn’t show it. Soon I would have to act as if everything were all right again; even if that made everything worse for me, it would make things better for my family. That had to be what truly mattered, for at least that was something I could control.

* * *

A month had passed before I saw Herr Drosselmeyer again. The pages I wrote were the only things that kept my memories of the Land of Sweets from fading completely, some days I had to read them twice to recall all the details.

Once I had started to partake in conversations again, Mother allowed us to open up the presents. I knew Fritz had been not so patiently waiting for that. I received handfuls of sugar toys and chocolates, a new collection of dolls, and multiple new dresses covered in lace and frills.

I expected that I would need to act delighted when I unwrapped all the gifts I wanted a decade ago, but the sight of everything did fill me with joy. The only problem was I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing. I wasn’t nostalgic at the gifts, and I feared as my memories slipped away, my years would too. I didn’t want to have the mentality of a twelve year old again.

Someone knocked on the front door after dinner and Anneliese quickly moved to open it. It had been a couple of weeks since I had relearned the pattern of things, but I couldn’t think of any reason we would have a visitor this late.

The young lady quickly returned to tell us who was here. “Sir Drosselmeyer has arrived, he says he’s brought his nephew.”

My brows tightened in confusion. I had known my godfather all my life and not once had he ever mentioned having a nephew, I was only vaguely aware he had a brother. Perhaps they were a small child? Although if that were the case I wasn’t sure why their father wouldn't come with.

Father stood up from the table to greet our guests and I tilted my head a little to try and see. His nephew looked about my current age, perhaps a little taller than me. He had straight black hair that was a bit longer than boys normally had it cut and piercing blue eyes.

I felt my heart catch in my throat. It couldn’t be.

I had only come to my senses just in time to hear godfather introduce them.

“I’d like all of you to meet my nephew, Hans Drosselmeyer.” I didn’t miss the pointed look he gave me.

It took all my self-control to fight back the tears that started to form in my eyes. Was my Hans really here? This was far from how I expected to see him again, but if it really was him- the details certainly didn’t matter.

“Perhaps Clara and Hans should step out to get acquainted?” he suggested. “They’re rather close in age. I’m sure they’ll get along quite nicely.”

No one had any complaints.

The two of us left the room, and my heart pounded in my chest. I was almost certain, but I was too afraid to say anything on the off chance I might be wrong. What if this was simply a cruel trick?

Hans wrapped his arms around me the moment everyone was out of sight and I melted in his embrace. It was far too familiar to be a coincidence.

“Is it really you?” I asked, I didn’t even care that my voice broke the slightest bit.

“It is.”

Tears rolled down my face as I began to sob. Hans held me close as he placed a comforting hand on the back of my head. I had no clue what all of this meant for the future, I never imagined living a life with him here in this world. But I had my husband back. My beautiful, sweet, incredible Hans, and that was all that mattered.

He pulled back the slightest bit to reach into his pocket and pulled out a gift. “I hope this will make up for our time apart.”

I almost laughed at the idea of him giving me a present. All of this was in no way his fault, but I wasn’t able to stop the tears yet. I pulled back the gold ribbon on the small red box; it looked just like the ones he gave me at home.

I cried a little more when I saw what was inside: a golden heart shaped locket, identical to the one he had given me years ago.

This truly was my Hans, and now that I had him back, I would never let him go.