Friday, December 5th, 1941

Dear Annelise,

I am glad to hear that all is well. Amsterdam is fine. It's freezing here. I can only imagine how cold it is in Norway.

Today a little boy walked up to me. His name was Misha. He asked me about Germany. He was so brave, until the soldier partnered with me began asking him questions. He looked terrified, like we were about to shoot him on the spot. I felt terrible for interrogating him (I only asked a few questions).

I hope that your family is doing alright.

Love, Alexander.

.

Annelise read the neat German handwriting. She was surprised the censors had let so much information through. The letter brought her to back to Earth, and reminded her that Alexander may be her lover, but he was also German.

She was overjoyed to receive a letter, but also sad. She could tell how torn Alexander was, between her and his country. She would've pitied him if Germany hadn't invaded her country last year.

Soldiers stood at every corner, watching her every movement. Her king had been evacuated to England. The only real thing keeping Norway from turning Nazi was the resistance, of which Jon was a part.

Jon, her older brother, brought her family illegal newspapers full of Allied news. She would read them and see how strong Germany really was. She wanted the Allies to win. She also knew that any day, they could launch an invasion that may kill Alexander.

The radio blared in the background, filling her ears with lies. She wanted to turn it one and one day, not hear Nazi propaganda.

She stood up and hid the letter in a drawer in her room. It was December 7th, 1941. Annelise looked out her window. It was dark outside, and a curfew was in effect.

She walked down the stairs of her apartment she shared with her family. Blackout curtains were hung. As she walked through the hall, she caught a glimpse of herself in the long mirror that rested there. She wore a knee length dark green wool skirt and a white blouse. The skirt was made from what little supplies she could get. She had green eyes and blonde hair. Everything about her shouted Norwegian.

She walked into the kitchen for dinner. When she saw that it was potatoes, she wasn't surprised. They had potatoes every night.

Her younger siblings, Roy and Astrid, argued about something quietly. Jon wasn't home.

She sat down to eat, said the prayer that her father, Fredrik, lead. She sat down and ate. No one said a word until there was a knock on the door that made them all jump. Annelise's first thought was that Germans had come to take her away and interrogate her about Alexander.

"Who's that," asked Roy, before Annelise made a shh sign. She turned her head to watch as her father opened the door, and in came Jon and Nils.

"Jon!" Annelise's voice was a whisper-shout as she ran to hug him. "I was worried!"

"I'll always come back. Don't worry about me." He grinned as Roy and Astrid ran up to him. Nils smiled from behind Jon.

Nils was Jon's friend. They were in the Resistance together. On weekends, he and Annelise would walk about town, pretending to be lovers. They would really be talking about Allied news that Annelise would pass on to her parents. Nils also knew about Alexander, and respected that.

"Why are you here so late," asked Annelise.

He responded by handing her the illegal newspaper he always delivered. Annelise opened it and read the headline:

PEARL HARBOR ATTACKED BY JAPAN, 2,000+ KILLED

"Pearl Harbor, that's in America," exclaimed Fredrik. Jon nodded.

"Japan is attacking America now," muttered Annelise. "This means they'll be involved in the War."

"They have such a strong military," said Nils. "Will this help us?"

"The Japanese attacked the Ravnaas as well," said Jon. "One of our ships. It wasn't even a war ship. It was innocent."

Annelise nodded. "I guess this means war in the Pacific now."

"What's Pearl Harbor," asked Roy. "Who died?"

Annelise picked him up and smoothed his red hair. "It doesn't matter right now. Just know that you are safe here, in Lillehammer. Nothing can hurt you."

"What about the soldiers on our streets," he asked. "What about the rations?"

"The soldiers aren't going to break down our doors, and a lack of chocolate won't hurt you." Annelise hugged him.

Nils walked around the apartment. "Would you mind if I stayed here," he asked Fredrik. "Just for tonight."

"That's fine," he said. "I know how dangerous it is out there. Annelise, take the twins to bed." Annelise nodded, and took Astrid's hand.

She walked the two up the stairs, and helped the half-asleep Astrid out of her little light blue dress, and Roy out of his warm shirt. As soon as she put them in their beds, they were asleep. She smiled as she pulled the covers to Roy's chin. "Sleep well, lillebror," she whispered to him. Annelise blew out the candle and left the room.

When she went downstairs, her mother, Lovise, was washing dishes, helped by Jon and Nils. Annelise walked into the small living room and turned off the radio, sick of the announcements proclaiming how easy life would be if they sided with Germany.

Annelise knew that, in a way, the broadcast was right. Things would be far easier if Norway joined the Axis Powers and supplied soldiers to them. But the easy choice was so often not the right one. Norway's Resistance would keep fighting for what was right, so long as Nazi Germany was in power. They would do whatever they could for the right choice to be made, even though it was not easy.

She took out her hair pins as she walked to her room, and she sat down at her small vanity. She finished taking her hair down and brushed it down her back. She opened the drawer in the vanity and grabbed papers and a pen. She felt a rush of pride looking at the little Norwegian flag she kept tucked away in her desk. It was made of cloth, and her mother had given it to her when Annelise turned five.

She began to write a reply to Alexander. When she was finished, she left it to dry as she put on her nightgown, thinking back on Alexander's letters. Each one left her a bit more in love, even though it was painful.

She smiled, remembering the time she went ice skating with him. He had strutted onto the ice, saying, "I've had plenty of experience in Germany!"

Annelise had rolled her eyes. "Yes, but I'm Norwegian. Good luck."

She had been skating figure eights and twirling, and Alexander could hardly get into the middle of the rink. She had laughed, and skated over to him. She pulled him onto his feet. As they skated, they noticed that someone had their windows open, and a song was playing. Heart and Soul.

Alexander got the hang of skating, and they half danced on the ice to the tune. When the final notes of the song played, Alexander dipped her and kissed her. Their faces had turned red when people clapped.

Annelise smiled at the memory. Now, she only heard sad war songs on the radio. The years with Alexander had been amazing. She had been breathless for half of it. She missed his jokes, his voice, and yes, his obnoxious singing, but now, her life was so boring. She wanted back Alexander, and all the laughter, security, and annoyances that came with him. She peaked through the curtains and watched the snow fall steadily outside. She wondered what it was like in the Soviet Union, in winter. She had always been told it was colder than anything Norway experienced. With a sigh, she blew out the candle and climbed into bed. She hoped Alexander was who he had been when they parted.