Return to Germany
For the time being, Hans von Hammer had returned to Castle von Hammer in 1919 Germany, returned a man conflicted. This world, for all the things he saw and knew that could go wrong, at least was one he understood. He had never quite felt comfortable in the modern world, though he supposed a small part of him would miss television. It was too noisy, too fast paced, too different a place. Though the people he loved were there... he could not live there any longer.
Nor could he ignore the difficulties in his marriage, the problems he did not know how to fix. Emotions were never something he had been able to grasp completely, but he felt even more lost than ever now. He did not know what to do, how to act, how to make things the way they should be. He had never felt so lacking in control, so utterly not in charge.
And so he left. Some might call it fleeing, and it surely was. But for now, he knew that he and Ali had to be apart. It was something he should have done in person, but instead, he had simply left a note. It was long and heartfelt, though it was still, he knew, the coward's way out. It promised his love and his support and the hope, perhaps to try for reconciliation in the passage of time. It said that he was sorry for all the pain he had caused. For now... it was better for all that they be apart.
And so the castle would be his home again. He had the farm to manage, and just enough knowledge of the future to know where to and not to tread, to help what he could without necessarily bringing down greater dangers. He would have many things to occupy his mind and time. And alcohol to help him forget.
Nor could he ignore the difficulties in his marriage, the problems he did not know how to fix. Emotions were never something he had been able to grasp completely, but he felt even more lost than ever now. He did not know what to do, how to act, how to make things the way they should be. He had never felt so lacking in control, so utterly not in charge.
And so he left. Some might call it fleeing, and it surely was. But for now, he knew that he and Ali had to be apart. It was something he should have done in person, but instead, he had simply left a note. It was long and heartfelt, though it was still, he knew, the coward's way out. It promised his love and his support and the hope, perhaps to try for reconciliation in the passage of time. It said that he was sorry for all the pain he had caused. For now... it was better for all that they be apart.
And so the castle would be his home again. He had the farm to manage, and just enough knowledge of the future to know where to and not to tread, to help what he could without necessarily bringing down greater dangers. He would have many things to occupy his mind and time. And alcohol to help him forget.