Fiction. The Strength of Love

The Strength of Love
The Second World War had been raging in Europe, and then in 1941 the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour and started the war in the Pacific.
All eligible young men and some women who weren’t already fighting among the war zones of Europe were enlisted to do active service in the Pacific Islands, Maxwell Bayer being one of them who had just reached the age to join the army, did his basic training, and was sent along with hundreds of others to defend the shores of New Zealand and Australia. Max was stationed in Fiji, then on to Samoa. While being involved in a battle he was wounded, there was a small amount of shrapnel, which needed surgery to remove, so he was sent home to New Zealand and the Waikato hospital. While recovering in a large surgical ward where there were mostly older nurses to tend to him, with the exception of a tall, slim lass of Scottish decent.
Max’s body language was soon working overtime doing his best to attract the attention of a vivacious Gloria Mc Donald, even to the stage of faking pain to have her attention and be close to her. It didn’t take long before they became good friends and when Max was discharged from Hospital he managed to persuade Gloria to continue their friendship and a lovely courtship began. During his convalescing period love blossomed and soon developed into something very special but all too soon it was time to return to the war. With a sad farewell Max was shipped to Singapore where the Japanese had already conquered and forced the residents into work camps. The battles raged on for many months without much headway being made, it looked like a long and dangerous period for him, somehow their courtship continued over these troubled waters for the next three years, luckily most of their correspondence was delivered, helping increase their strong love for each other and anxious wait for war to end and be re-united.
Finally this happened and Max and Gloria were among the hundreds of lovesick sweethearts with a happy reunion. Max was faced with the trials of resettling back into a civilised life and a positive future.
Gloria had finished her training and had become a nursing sister, it didn’t take long for the love of her life to ask her to marry him and help start a normal life together.
After their marriage Max decided to buy a cabinet making business, which had a nice old villa on the sight near the shop, which was a treat after living in cramped quarters. The love of these two people held together through good and bad times, soon the first of their six children were born, the post war depression was changing and business increased enough for a bigger factory.
As more children arrived Max decided sell the cabinet making shop and become a real estate agent, it didn’t take long for him to establish a very good business, Gloria was always at his side in support, while carrying out the major job of being a housewife and mother to their six children.
The years rolled by, the family grew into adults, spreading their wings to the four corners of the world, Max and Gloria moved house again to the seaside, enjoying a wonderful life of companionship together.
Soon there were grandchildren all around and if they used the pattern of their grandparent’s love and affection, they should have a wonderful life.
Today Max and Gloria are still enjoying a relaxed life together along with wonderful memories based on a very strong love and understanding for each other.
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