The Wall Crossers

Jan 4 Tue - When two stars drift

Olivia's perspective

It is the fourth of January, and I am seated at a table in a café near the Air Ministry compound where I work. It was a fifteen-minute walk, in the rain, for me to get here. I am working today and have responsibilities. I told Sgt Ellis I might be late returning. He just frowned and gave me a nasty look.

It is a short bus ride for Leida from her Burda office. So we agreed to meet here, only for kaffee, as I have very little time to spare.

I am wearing Army fatigues and boots, with field jacket with wool liner and garrison cap hanging on the back of my chair.

Since we last saw each other, in December, we have had three or four Sunday calls. Leida has always been enthusiastic during these calls. I have been subdued. But she has pushed through this mood of mine and continued with the planning for our future together, after I exit the Army.

However, after the recent events of Dr. Peters' party, and Horst's escape attempt, and Anja's departure for the East, as far as I know, just yesterday, to find him—it is hard for me to think of anything else. And Leida seems to be—to me now—a distant star.

I expect from this meeting with Leida that we will reach a decision together—what is to be done, about us. I see no future in it. I see no future in Berlin, in Germany. I will return to the US, in only a matter of days, and try to pick up the pieces of a life I left when I went into the Army and lost all my innocence forever—the innocence of a student, that so many of my past good friends back home still possess, while I drift... in a wilderness of believing in nothing now. The past gone. A future with Anja... unlikely. I have heard nothing. Jelena despises me. She will not help me... learn anything, if there is anything to even know.

What began with Leida as disaster, has merely transformed to a different kind of disaster—where she believes we have a certain special love made in heaven. How long could such a belief survive before she wakes up, and then I would be discarded?

It is true that she touches my heart and gives me all she has. As I consider that, I find it—amazing.

Leida's perspective

I approach the door to the café knowing: it all comes down to this. Olivia has been distant, and I learned from Maren about Anja's disappearance, which makes things harder. Absence creates longing that cannot easily be dislodged. If this, our first time together in a month, fails, where does my life go from there? Frau Elisa, my Hellseherin (Clairvoyant), cautioned me: there will be delay—it is fine, you will come through this.

What sort of delay? There is so little time for any delay. Olivia exits the Army in eight days. Much has to be done. But first, she must be willing. Everything depends on that. And then? In less than a year—we will be in the US together! This prospect is so exciting! We will, as she said when we first met, join and make it work. That is proof. Olivia herself foretold that.

I step into the café, away from the blustery rainy street, and I see Olivia sitting at a table along the far wall. She is wearing Army clothes. She looks up at me and smiles and waves. I wave back. In spite of the Army dress, she is the same to me... a wonderful girl who I want... I need. My ticket to a bright, no brilliant, future of great opportunity! I remove my overcoat and hat and walk to her.

Olivia's perspective

I am watching the front entrance door as it opens again and Leida steps inside. She sees me right away and we smile and wave. She unbuttons and takes off her long navy blue overcoat with brown fur at the collar and sleeve cuffs, removes a matching round cap, and hangs them on the coat tree. She hangs her umbrella there also. It appears to be navy blue also, with large white stars.