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❝ letter one ❞

22nd November1943

Dear Steve,
                        I promised I would write sooner and I intended to but father didn't want me wasting his ink. I wish you were still here every day and then I wouldn't have to bother him at all. Instead, I could simply pick up your call.

But after your successful attempt at liberating the prisoners of war, he finally allowed me to send this letter. He doesn't like that I care so deeply for you even when you are so far away but I do not care what he thinks. I am long past that point. He never approved of you but you have been the sweetest soul I have encountered in my short time on this earth.

I would bend the Heavens to bring you back to me and I pray every night that you will return to my side.

I hope the war is treating you well. You always dreamed of being enlisted and now you have been. I hope it is everything that you dreamt of and that you find honour is finally being able to fight for your country. I cannot express to you how immensely proud I am. Your father would be too. I know you miss him and your mother but they are both smiling down from Heaven, completely enchanted by your heroism. I know I always have been.

Brooklyn misses you. Even when you went away as America's poster boy, I missed you dearly. I hope the boys are treating you well and you've found James somewhere out there. My father mentioned that he was out there in Europe with you. It gives me confidence that you can survive this if you are together. The two of you can face everything. You have always had each other's back at every turn and I can only hope to be a woman worthy of your bravery.

Connie hopes to be the same for James too. If you receive this letter, tell him that Connie misses him and can't wait to dance with him once more. She misses him so dearly. I cannot blame her.

She didn't tell me to say that but I know she misses him. He is all she ever talks about. That and the latest patients she receives. It's rather concerning how unaffected she seems by the horror of it all but I know she means well and she is doing what she can for the war effort. I sometimes wish I could do more but I am not built to be a nurse and my father would never approve.

I am to be a housewife, I hope I could be yours one day. We have talked about it many times before and I know my father is 𝗍̶𝖾̶𝗋̶𝗋̶𝗂̶𝖿̶𝗒̶𝗂̶𝗇̶𝗀̶ overbearing, at times, but he has always tried his best for me. He wants me to marry someone of high status and class. He believes that that will protect me from the horrors of the world but I never wanted that and I never will. Your Brooklyn roots are enough for me and he will eventually understand, I hope.

Maybe after this war is over and you have returned to me in one piece, he will see the truth. He will see how perfect you are because I know you are.

I apologize for rambling but I truly do miss you and not seeing you every day to simply talk is rather jarring. I know it has been months since you went away but the phone calls made it easier. Now you're in Europe, I understand it is much harder to call me but I hope to hear from you soon, in whatever form that may be.

I'm going to send this out as soon as I have finished writing just in time for the last post collection of the day and so it should reach you in a few weeks time. I don't know how reliable the post will be but I hope it reaches you soon, my love. I will try my best to write every month from now on but father has so many plans.

He wants me to visit my aunt upstate. He claims the fresh air will give me a clear head to make a decision over whether or not to accept Heath's proposal. I don't think I will, no matter how much fresh air I get. He's far too cruel and he sees himself as better than anyone else. I understand it is my duty to make my family proud and listen to my father but he doesn't understand. He doesn't understand a lot of things.

You have captured my heart, Steve Rogers, and I will not be giving it away to anyone until I see your face once more. Now, I will leave the letter here. I promise to write again and if you need anything from home, send me a letter back and I will send a package with my next letter. I hope Europe treats you well.

All my love,
Josie