Chapter 1: The divided world
I asked him: “Let’s quickly see the shooting stars!” “All right!“, Soviet Union gave in. I knew he was dead tired and just wanted to sleep. I finally wanted to dare tonight. I finally wanted to tell him how I feel about him. I hoped he wouldn’t leave me because of that, but he couldn’t leave me if he made me pregnant, right? He got up slowly and walked over to the closet. Soviet took out a pair of loose pants, which he put on relatively quickly. He walked over to me and looked down at me with a tired but beautiful smile. I grabbed his sleeve and dragged him out of our room. We looked again at our peacefully sleeping children who were in their room. Soviet carefully took my left hand and walked with me downstairs and out of my house.
Together we hiked further up the mountain to a small flower meadow. There was almost no wind that night. I looked up at the starry night sky above us. The stars shared their light in the world shrouded in darkness. I asked Soviet: “Isn’t that nice?” I wanted to know what he thought about it. “Yes, it’s really nice!“, he agreed. I could hear his joy loud and clear. I looked at him, but he quickly looked away, as did I. Did he perhaps mean me with his answer? We looked at the night sky together and watched the shooting stars that flew across the sky. “Reich, I have something important to tell you!“, Soviet Union informed me and I looked at him before he continued: “I can also understand from what you’ve been trying to tell me for a while that we are no longer friends after that.”
“What is it?“, I asked curiously. What did Soviet Union want to tell me? He turned closer to me. I looked into his shining golden eyes that shone brighter than any star in the sky. Soviet took another deep breath before he said a little quieter: “Reich I-I’m in love with you!” What? Did I hear that right? I wasn’t the only one of the two of us? I was incredibly happy about that. He loves me! I never thought that this could actually happen right now. Soviet then looked down uncertainly before turning and slowly putting one foot in front of the other. He took about five steps on each foot before I stopped him: “Soviet come back here, I’m not done with you yet!” He should come back to me since I hadn’t revealed my feelings for him to him yet.
Soviet Union slowly turned to me. I was slightly angry at him for just walking away. Hesitantly he came back to me. When he stopped in front of me, I asked him: “Did you really mean it?” I wanted to make sure he meant it. “Yes!“, he whispered, slightly uncertain. I grabbed his shirt collar and he closed his eyes. I pulled him to my height. Now or never! I placed my lips gently and lightly on his. I closed my eyes too and lost myself in the moment. This joy and happiness that flowed through my whole body and especially my heart was indescribable. Am I really kissing Soviet Union right now?! Was it right? It felt incredibly good. Did I make a mistake? I pulled my lips back from his and looked away, feeling very uncomfortable.
Why did I just kissed him? I felt a large and warm hand on my right cheek. I looked at Soviet Union who smiled lovingly at me. I am a little bit nervous. “I guess I’m not the only one in love.“, came from Soviet, who shortly afterwards stretched his head closer to me and put his lips on mine. I snuggled into his warm chest after the long kiss. I felt more safe, protected and loved than I have ever felt in my life.
“Sister, are you reading that book mama wrote again?“, I hear from my little brother. I answer my brother, who is four and a half years younger: “Yes! I really like the book that mama wrote for papa.” “It’s one the pair book we have and I still don’t understand it. Then how can it be so good?“. Libertasland scolds. I’m think: “You’re just too young for this. You’re only 4 and I am 8 years old.” “Can’t we get more books?“, he demanded. I remind him: “Have you forgotten that we don’t have any money or ID?” He lowers his head and looks away from me, offended. “How about I go into town and bring you an apple?“, I offer to stop him being offended.
He is immediately happy: “Yes!” I announce: “Okay then I’ll dress up and be on my way. I have to get some new food anyway.” I get up and go to the clothes I collected a few years ago. “Can I come with you?“, my little brother asks me. I answer: “Not today, but maybe soon if you behave yourself.” “I always behave! Then see you later, sister!“, Libertasland calls out. “See you little brother!“, I say goodbye before I crawl out of our little cave with the clothes. I put on my clothes and make my way to the street. It would be nicer if I could use my wings for it, but that would be too obvious.
When I get to the street, I walk along the street and hope that nobody can recognize the color of my skin. They don’t seem to notice. I walk slowly to the train station. I go to the left side of the building and squeeze through a small opening in the fence. The train is already there. I go to the other people and blend in with the crowd. I use it to sneak onto the train. Since the train stops at the next station, I don’t have to hide. I sit down on one of the seats and wait. Shortly thereafter, the train leaves. I stay in the exact same position as it ensures that I either don’t stand out or stand out positively. In the middle of the train ride I hear: “There’s the one without a ticket!”
Oh no! I look up and the one comes closer to me. Should I flee? I have a much better idea. I’m waiting. He really comes to me. “Where’s your ticket?“, the man asks me. “My mama has it. She’s a wagon behind this one.“, I claim to get away. He’s going in the direction I gave him. I get up and so people don’t get suspicious, I go to the back, but once I’m out of the wagon, I climb the ladder up there onto the roof. Now I have my peace. The wind hits my face as I cling on. After a few minutes I can already see the city in front of me.
As the train pulls in, I look at the impressive buildings. The train station is in the middle of the city. A short time before the train stops, I climb down between the two wagons. When the train stops and people get off, I get off and blend back into the crowd. I leave the big building and walk down the street because I have to catch the tram. I see the tram and quickly get on. I sit in. Luckily nobody here looks for your ID. At the next station, a tall man walks into the tram and sits down slightly opposite me. The man is very tall.
He has a uniform from which I can tell he works for Britain personally. He has a dark expression on his face and long hazel hair that moves in a somewhat fake way. His full beard also looks very fake. He also has a mustache that is the same color as his hair. His skin color looks slightly reddish in some places, as if he had covered his complexion with something. And his nose doesn’t match his plump looking face. His eyes are golden like no normal person has. The man also has a scar on his chin. Somehow I have to think of papa again because of his eyes and his size.
I wonder what became of him and everyone else. Mama disappeared into the sea, but everyone else was at the house, except Grandma, she just disappeared for no reason, she wasn’t even with mama. Papa, my siblings and America were at the house, but when I got there they were gone. I get up because I have to leave the station. Under no circumstances should I be conspicuous. I get off the train and walk down a few streets when I finally arrive at the alley I’m looking for. I take off my scarf and hat as I enter the small shop. “Hallo Rosi! (Hello Rosi!)“, I call. I hear behind a few shelves: “Guten Tag GEAU! (Hello GEAU!)” Rosi comes to me and is happy that I am there. “Wie geht es deinem Bruder? (How is your brother?)“, she asks me. “Ihm geht es gut und beschwert sich immer noch ständig über alles. (He’s fine and still complains about everything.)” I inform her.
“Das ist doch normal für jemanden in seinem Alter, wenn man es so sieht, dass er so schnell älter wird wie du. Im Vergleich zu Menschen bist du mindestens 16 Jahre alt. (It’s normal for someone his age, if you look at it that way, that he’s aging as fast as you are. Compared to humans, you’re at least 16 years old.)“, she says. “Hast du zwei Äpfel, ein Brot und zwei Birnen für uns? (Do you have two apples, a piece of bread and two pears for us?)“, I ask her.
“Ich habe kalte Tomatensuppe, drei Äpfel, ein Brot, zwei Birnen und ein paar Erbsen für euch. (I have cold tomato soup, three apples, a piece of bread, two pears and some peas for you.)“, she says and goes away to get everything. Luckily Rosi is there and has been giving us our food for three and a half years. She comes back to me with a basket with everything and has put a cloth over the food. Rosi informs me: “Ich habe auch noch ein paar Überraschungen für dich und deinen Bruder eingepackt. (I also packed a few surprises for you and your brother.)”
“Vielen lieben Dank! (Thank you so much!)“, I thanked and hug her as a token of her gratitude. “Gern geschehen und komm gut Heim! (You’re welcome and get home safely!)“, comes from her and hugs me lightly. When I let her go, I make my way to my brother. I’d like to say I’m going home, but it’s not home because it’s not even a house. I go back and wait for the tram, which comes a few minutes later. I get in and sit down with the basket. The man from before is still sitting there. The whole drive I’m nervous about the man, but I try not to show it. Why does he look so fake and at the same time look so familiar to me?
