One
This is a story I wrote for English class. Hope you enjoy it ^^
All things have its own "colors". Of course, between those colors are the shades of gray. Some of the shades are so light that they could easily be mistaken for white. Others, are dark as a midnight sky. War, like all things, has its own shade of gray. Or so I thought. Only till now did I see the changing grays of war. It isn't fair.
Think of a word that has the same meaning as gloomy. That was what life was like in East Germany. A decade ago in 1961, the Soviets and the Americans marched into our country, Deutschland . The Soviets came from the East and the Americans from the West. After a while, hearing the prosperous living styles in West Berlin, cousin Eaik fled from our home in East Berlin.. His brother Raaf followed Eaik's example but it was too late. Guards had been set around the borders of West and East Germany and orders were to shoot anyone who was to cross the border. The wounds developed into a scar - the Berlin Wall. My small family of three could only stay under Soviet rule. Also, because of our social status, Mama, Papa, and I couldn't visit Eaik. But perhaps it was better that way. We wouldn't have to get jealous of him.
Before the letter, I always thought East Berlin was nice. Gray and dull at times, but nice. But then Eaik had to come along and ruin all that. The letter came recently, while both Mama and Papa were out for a walk and I was waiting for my friends to come over. I was surprised to see a letter, especially one from the West block. Even more, from him. It was written in messy handwriting. I grimaced. He didn't change.
May 14th 1971
Dear Laila,
You probably aren't too glad to hear from me. I know we had a bad start when we were young, but I guess that since we're family, we have to fix it, right?
I remember when you were a little girl. I remember how I despised the way you were treated in your family. You were a girl but your parents gave you the freedom to choose, to think, to reason Anyway, that time, you were probably five or six? And I was fifteen. Even though you were still a child, I remember the wisdom I saw in you. It was as if you understood everything with cutting clarity. Are you still that wise, Laila? Perhaps even wiser now at age fifteen?
I realize now that perhaps it was that freedom that made you wise. I realize now how foolish I was.
Anyway, I hope you are well! Here in West Berlin, we have the occasional holiday and free weekends and during those days, I travel with my wife. My work here is well, and my boss treats me well. Maybe we could go somewhere together as a family, maybe Austria? I would like to see your parents too! It's actually been ten long years already!
Keep in contact!
Love,
Cousin Eaik
Eaik was always a lucky person. When we were little, we would compete over things: who could steal a lollipop from Mr. Schneider, who could catch the sparrow. Always, he would win. Eaik was a good person, bubbly even. But these merits of his lured the jealousies of others. It was opposite attraction: light attracting dark.
When I was little, I did hate Eaik. He, a fifteen year old that time, had everything a teenager could want. But he had to belittle everyone else so that he could exaggerate his already high status. Reading his letter, I could tell he changed. But will I forgive him? No. He abandoned us, and that's something that cannot be thought of lightly.
After a whole thirteen years of Soviet rule, and even longer for my parents, one would think the war would end. But no. Now in the year of 1971, it's the same - or even worse. The Soviets and the Americans still compete over whose country was better, whose economy was stronger, who was more advanced.
When the wall was built, many people thought the Soviets were excluding others from the community. The truth, however, was that the wall was constructed not to keep others out, but to keep us residents of East Germany in. With the bricks and stone, a hated symbol of oppression was built.
I wouldn't say I loathe the Soviets. But that doesn't make me adore them, now does it? I just want to be free once more, like Eaik. Why could he bathe in the light beams of brightness while we suffered in gray shadows?
My ninth year from birth was a turning point for me. Before that, I was a flood of emotions. There was anger, mainly because of Eaik, and sorrow for Raaf. There was horror from the Soviets, and pain, from the Scar of Germany. But Mama opened the light for me. She led me out of my gray days into a world of unseen hope.
Once, when even the stars were plastered with midnight black, I woke from a nightmare. Even though the Berlin Wall had been standing for two years already, I kept having perpetual nightmares of a monstrous figure blocking my way. While comforting me through my tears, Mama urged my eyes shut. With innocent curiosity, I asked, "Why?" She answered, "Laila, do as I say, and close your eyes," in that ever so soft but straight-forward voice of hers. Still confused, I reluctantly closed my eyelids. Mama rubbed my eyes gently. Some leftover tears leaked out from my eyes. It felt like rain. Soft, acidic rain. Mama patted my head gently. "This is what falls upon Germany. Harmless, but deadly at the same time. It can heal, but also destroy." I looked at her with awe, an awe belonging only to an eight year old. "What falls upon Germany, Mama?" "The souls of all." Suddenly, the tears didn't sting as much, because there was someone by my side.
I don't know how I got this idea. Most likely it came from Mama and Eaik's letter. But why am I constantly thinking about this? My own selfish reasons? World peace? Is this something a fifteen year old girl should be doing? I can't interpret it... I can only see that I want the souls of all to be reawakened. I want them to be filled with hope. I want everyone to be reunited as one - the one it always was in soul. I want the scar of Germany to be removed. Once and for all.
Afterword: Ever since the Berlin Wall was put up, people (mainly those of East Germany) wanted to bring it down. Some were so fired up they even dared to break a hole in the wall and escape. Others, however, converted that fiery hate into hope. In 1989, twenty-three years after the birth of the Berlin Wall, was it finally torn down due to orders of Soviet and American leaders. It was the beginning of the end.
Think of a word that has the same meaning as gloomy. That was what life was like in East Germany. A decade ago in 1961, the Soviets and the Americans marched into our country, Deutschland . The Soviets came from the East and the Americans from the West. After a while, hearing the prosperous living styles in West Berlin, cousin Eaik fled from our home in East Berlin.. His brother Raaf followed Eaik's example but it was too late. Guards had been set around the borders of West and East Germany and orders were to shoot anyone who was to cross the border. The wounds developed into a scar - the Berlin Wall. My small family of three could only stay under Soviet rule. Also, because of our social status, Mama, Papa, and I couldn't visit Eaik. But perhaps it was better that way. We wouldn't have to get jealous of him.
Before the letter, I always thought East Berlin was nice. Gray and dull at times, but nice. But then Eaik had to come along and ruin all that. The letter came recently, while both Mama and Papa were out for a walk and I was waiting for my friends to come over. I was surprised to see a letter, especially one from the West block. Even more, from him. It was written in messy handwriting. I grimaced. He didn't change.
May 14th 1971
Dear Laila,
You probably aren't too glad to hear from me. I know we had a bad start when we were young, but I guess that since we're family, we have to fix it, right?
I remember when you were a little girl. I remember how I despised the way you were treated in your family. You were a girl but your parents gave you the freedom to choose, to think, to reason Anyway, that time, you were probably five or six? And I was fifteen. Even though you were still a child, I remember the wisdom I saw in you. It was as if you understood everything with cutting clarity. Are you still that wise, Laila? Perhaps even wiser now at age fifteen?
I realize now that perhaps it was that freedom that made you wise. I realize now how foolish I was.
Anyway, I hope you are well! Here in West Berlin, we have the occasional holiday and free weekends and during those days, I travel with my wife. My work here is well, and my boss treats me well. Maybe we could go somewhere together as a family, maybe Austria? I would like to see your parents too! It's actually been ten long years already!
Keep in contact!
Love,
Cousin Eaik
Eaik was always a lucky person. When we were little, we would compete over things: who could steal a lollipop from Mr. Schneider, who could catch the sparrow. Always, he would win. Eaik was a good person, bubbly even. But these merits of his lured the jealousies of others. It was opposite attraction: light attracting dark.
When I was little, I did hate Eaik. He, a fifteen year old that time, had everything a teenager could want. But he had to belittle everyone else so that he could exaggerate his already high status. Reading his letter, I could tell he changed. But will I forgive him? No. He abandoned us, and that's something that cannot be thought of lightly.
After a whole thirteen years of Soviet rule, and even longer for my parents, one would think the war would end. But no. Now in the year of 1971, it's the same - or even worse. The Soviets and the Americans still compete over whose country was better, whose economy was stronger, who was more advanced.
When the wall was built, many people thought the Soviets were excluding others from the community. The truth, however, was that the wall was constructed not to keep others out, but to keep us residents of East Germany in. With the bricks and stone, a hated symbol of oppression was built.
I wouldn't say I loathe the Soviets. But that doesn't make me adore them, now does it? I just want to be free once more, like Eaik. Why could he bathe in the light beams of brightness while we suffered in gray shadows?
My ninth year from birth was a turning point for me. Before that, I was a flood of emotions. There was anger, mainly because of Eaik, and sorrow for Raaf. There was horror from the Soviets, and pain, from the Scar of Germany. But Mama opened the light for me. She led me out of my gray days into a world of unseen hope.
Once, when even the stars were plastered with midnight black, I woke from a nightmare. Even though the Berlin Wall had been standing for two years already, I kept having perpetual nightmares of a monstrous figure blocking my way. While comforting me through my tears, Mama urged my eyes shut. With innocent curiosity, I asked, "Why?" She answered, "Laila, do as I say, and close your eyes," in that ever so soft but straight-forward voice of hers. Still confused, I reluctantly closed my eyelids. Mama rubbed my eyes gently. Some leftover tears leaked out from my eyes. It felt like rain. Soft, acidic rain. Mama patted my head gently. "This is what falls upon Germany. Harmless, but deadly at the same time. It can heal, but also destroy." I looked at her with awe, an awe belonging only to an eight year old. "What falls upon Germany, Mama?" "The souls of all." Suddenly, the tears didn't sting as much, because there was someone by my side.
I don't know how I got this idea. Most likely it came from Mama and Eaik's letter. But why am I constantly thinking about this? My own selfish reasons? World peace? Is this something a fifteen year old girl should be doing? I can't interpret it... I can only see that I want the souls of all to be reawakened. I want them to be filled with hope. I want everyone to be reunited as one - the one it always was in soul. I want the scar of Germany to be removed. Once and for all.
Afterword: Ever since the Berlin Wall was put up, people (mainly those of East Germany) wanted to bring it down. Some were so fired up they even dared to break a hole in the wall and escape. Others, however, converted that fiery hate into hope. In 1989, twenty-three years after the birth of the Berlin Wall, was it finally torn down due to orders of Soviet and American leaders. It was the beginning of the end.
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