Wilma’s Tree of Life

1941 September | Arriving, By Plane: 5:20

All night I had been awake thinking of what lay before me. Why I didn’t even know him. He was a stranger. True, we had spent two weeks together, but what is that to a lifetime. As I remembered we had thought alike. At least for two weeks we did. We found we enjoyed sports. We loved music and he knew more about art than I had suspected. It had all seemed so perfect. It fitted together as if it had been planned. We had the very same ideals for living.

But I knew then, that night, I didn’t know what he really thought, deep inside him. I guess that was why I was going to marry him, to find out. I hungered for a companion, one I could say, I feel lonely. And he would understand. Always I had felt a strange driving urge, to accomplish, to win. But I had to work, work hard. Oh! I was striving for something, I could tell him and he would help me to find it. I was so thirsty to have someone, so close that I could lose myself.

Now the plane was coming down. It was raining so hard that I could hardly see anything, but flat patches of land. Then I saw the Jacksonville airport, in the late afternoon, from the window of the plane. I looked deserted and lonely and suddenly, I was afraid. I got panicky. I didn’t want to get out. No! — I’ll stay on and go back. This is too risky. Why I don’t know anyone here. I am a fool. Go back. Go back, before it’s too late. Yes, I’ll go back. But what will everyone say at home. Laugh and whisper around and around, that two weeks was too short a time to know? That it was foolish? Why the silly thing! We knew it wouldn’t work. But then, she was brave, she did have courage to go down there, all the way. All alone. I had courage!

Everyone was gone. I was the last off. I looked around slowly. I was cool then, and deliberate. I collected my coat, picked up my box of nuts and bag and went out. Before I left the steps some one grabbed me and he was crying. For me? He was so happy? “Darling, my dear, sweet darling”. Yes I am here. You couldn’t wait for me to get here? Yes, I had a fine trip, and enjoyed the plane travel very much. Why– Why   everything is fine. What was there to be afraid of. Hold me darling, hard, and never let me go. Why everything is perfect, just perfect. Thank God! I had been such a fool. Here was home.
Darling I love you!