Friday, December 16, 1941

Dear Alexander,

Everything here is decent. My sister tried sneaking food into her room and was almost caught. I am well. I hope you are, too.

Love, Annelise.

.

"Nein," he whispered. The second sentence was code they had developed for the Resistance. It meant that they had almost been caught. He hoped Annelise was actually well, and not lying to ease his worries.

It had taken the letter six days to reach him. Something was suspicious. Ever since America had declared war, everything had taken on a tense atmosphere. It was as if the war before Pear Harbor had been a child's game, or a play, and now the curtain was pulled back to reveal the second act.

Even the jokes he and his friends told were tense, and their laughs were fake. Alexander wondered why they wasted time on jokes. He wanted to get into the sky and shoot down the planes he knew were passing overhead.

He would think thoughts like that, and then he would be sickened. He was disgusted with himself. He was becoming a slave to the Nazi influences that surrounded him constantly. Every time he saw a swastika, or a propaganda poster in German, he didn't know how to feel.

He walked along his usual street now, his mind filled with these thoughts. He was silent, and his face was hard, his voice cold. He was filled with worry for Annelise. Would he ever see her again? What about Jon? Lukas? Nils? Were they alive? Compared to his soldier friends, they were so much more important to him. Was it treason to think that way?

On top of everything, Annelise was a Jew. She was in more danger than any other person. He remembered the Jewish family he had arrested. He had seen her face in the girl, no older than sixteen. Tall, blonde, green-eyed, and a blue coat.

He and Annelise had fought for her parent's approval. Jews typically did not marry outside the Jewish community. It had taken months, but eventually, her mother and father had taken Alexander inside, shook his hand, and said, "Stay true to her."

He almost laughed at the words now. Stay true to a Jewish girl? It was impossible in the world he lived in. He tried, every day. But Hitler believed Jews were evil. He had said this to the masses in Berlin, Alexander's hometown, now used as a slaughterhouse and hive of evil.

"Are you okay," asked a voice behind Alexander, who turned. Jan stood there.

Alexander walked up to him with a hard face. "Why did you follow me," he asked harshly, trying to keep his anger back.

"I didn't follow you! I just... well... you looked lonely," said Jan, looking away, clearly terrified. "I'm sorry."

"My location is classified," said Alexander, lifting Jan's head to meet his eyes with a gloved hand. "Do not follow me." Alexander turned on his heel and walked away, confused as to why this man followed him.

"Wait," called Jan again. Alexander turned back to him, internally furious.

Alexander looked down at the man, who was far shorter than him. "Show me your identification papers." Nice going, Alexander. You're turning into the cold-hearted lieutenant everyone wants you to be.'

Jan's face turned sheet white for a moment, before he frantically reached into his back pocket to get them out, and half-shoved them into Alexander's hands. He looked the papers over. Jan was nineteen. All the information matched. Alexander handed the papers back to Jan. "Don't bother me again."

Alexander turned on his heel, but before he went five feet, Jan called, "I know about Annelise!"

Alexander felt his heart turn to ice. "What did you say," he asked menacingly, turning slowly.

"I know about Annelise," Jan said, this time in German. Perfect, fluent German. "I bring you her letters."

Alexander felt a hurricane raging inside him. If this man was lying...

"Are you, really," asked Alexander. "Are you lying to get me on your side?"

"No! I tell the truth." His worried face was completely gone. In it's place was a completely calm, collected, brave man, delivering information to an equal. "She is Norwegian. She has three siblings."

"You've been reading them," Alexander stated.

"I have told nobody what they say. I prevent the censors from cutting anything out."

Alexander nodded. Something about this man told Alexander that he wasn't lying.

Alexander extended his hand. "Jan, my name is Alexander. Thank you."

Jan shook Alexander's hand. "No need to be formal. I don't have time for all of that," he said. Alexander nodded, vaguely amused. "Neither do I."

"The other day, when you saved me from those other boys punching me to death, it was because they wanted to see the letters," Jan said. "They wanted to know if I was a spy or not."

"Are you a spy," asked Alexander. Jan shook his head.

Alexander nodded. "Auf Wiedersehen, Jan."

"Auf Wiedersehen, Alexander," said Jan. He walked off without looking back.

Alexander could never say goodbye without thinking of Annelise.

"My coat will be a garden someday," Annelise had told Alexander, after he had given her another flower. They walked through a meadow. He picked flowers and put them in her hair, coat, and threaded them through the chains in her necklace.

"The flowers are pretty, though," Alexander had said. "Almost cute."

"Flowers are cute," she had asked with a laugh. Alexander had nodded, putting a blue flower in his own hair.

"See? Flowers are cute on anybody?" He had picked a white one, and given it to her. "Especially you."

Annelise had rolled her eyes. "Should I laugh or blush?"

"Both?"

She had smiled, handing him a yellow flower. "Let me give you something ever once and a while."

"Danke, Annelise."

"Velkommen, Alexander."

They both looked like walking gardens by the end of the day. When the reached the end of the meadow, and were on the edge of town, they said goodbye to each other.

"Auf Wiedersehen, Alexander," she had called. He had waved to her as she walked away. That would be the last time Alexander had said those words with a smile on his face.

He shook his head, pushing away the memories. He had almost forgotten what people did when there were no wars. They danced, laughed, gave each other flowers.

Alexander stood at his corner, silent all day. Henri joined him later.

"Are you alright, Alexander," asked Henri. "You've been silent all day."

Alexander nodded. "I've just realized that I most likely won't go home," he lamented.

"Sure you will," said Henri. "Don't let the threat of Americans get you down. You're a good pilot."

"Even if I survive battle, there is no going home from war."

"Why so serious," asked Henri. Before Alexander could answer, a whistle blew loudly, and people were shouting in German.

"What's going on," yelled Henri.

Alexander knew what was happening before he was told. "Planes," he said, energy filling him. "An enemy is here. We're going up."