[DEFEAT. is Rendar Frankenstein’s truest attempt at fiction.   Presented in weekly episodes, the novella tells the tale of Daryl Millar – a hero who dies at the intersection of pop culture, science-fiction, war epic, and fantasy]

October 22^nd, 1955

Mother,
In spite of my usual tendencies, I hope to keep this letter brief. Although I’d love to renew a regular correspondence with you, I understand that some of my decisions have led you to develop a coldness toward me. This troubles me deeply, but you are entitled to your opinions — which you have been more than willing to share and less than willing to have challenged — and I suppose that I must respect that. But I want you to know that should you ever want to open a true line of communication, in which we can both have our ideas entertained, I will be receptive.

And so, pretenses and formalities aside, here it is: I married Lukas. He proposed to me and a week later we became husband and wife. Neither of us could be more in love, and I have never felt better about the future. If you find any solace in all of this, I pray that it is in the fact that your only daughter has finally overcome years of tragedy and turmoil to reclaim her life as a joyous celebration. At the very least, however, you can rest assured that Lukas and I are no longer “living in sin.”

While I do not owe you any sort of explanation, I’d feel remiss if I never presented it before you clearly in writing (instead of trying to talk while simply being shouted over and waved away). For the last time — Lukas Lang is a good man. Yes, he fought in World War II. For Germany.

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