City Wall | K.Sn

| 19 |

My back was stiff as I sat in the couch in front of the television. My dinner standing in front of me, not exactly looking like anything I was gonna eat anytime soon. The television was turned on in front of me as the press meeting started up on the television.

The sounds was barely turned up, but it was loud enough to fill my head and my mind completely. I felt scared to even move at that exact moment, scared that one movement caught on the cameras would be seen as wrong.

To say that it had been a challenge for me to move around the appartment after the cameras was set up, would be an understatement. I was horrified to even look out my window.

The press meeting itself was a drag. Too long, too boring. I would rather sit and do anything else right now, but to budge away from this would not be alright, it would be treason towards the society I lived in.

I impatiently glanced towards the glass of water standing on the tea table in front of me. Slowly and with a shaky hand I reached out and grabbed onto it, carefully lifting it to my lips and tilting in a small sip of water, to run past my lips.

The cold water against my throat felt nice, I don't really remember last time I ate but I remember drinking water this morning and that was all. I was scared to even eat by now. I didn't even feel comfortable sleeping in my own bed when I could see the red light of the camera contantly keeping a surveillance of me

"Private travel outside of the country can now be applied for without prerequisities, conditions or family relationships. Permits will be issued on short notice," the old man on screen, Günter Schabowski, read out loud for all od the people in the press hall and every East German citizen to hear.

I had almost choked on my water, not really getting what I was hearing. Because right now, it sure sounded a lot like that I could freely travel to the West without any issues or whatsoever.

"When does this go into effect?" a journalist was quick to ask as I felt my heartbeat speed up in my chest and I automatically leaned closer towards the television screen.

"As I understand it, it goes into effect imediately. Without delay," Günter replied and my breath immediately hitched.

I sat still and frozen in my spot as the press meeting continued rolling in front of my eyes. It was first when I heard cheers and commotion out on the street that I was pulled out of my thoughts.

Never before I had I jumped so fast off the couch and over to run into my room. I quickly grabbed a bag and began throwing my most important things into it, including the chocolate bar Sunoo had given me, which I was still to begin eating.

Just the mere thought of Sunoo had brought me to run over to my window and swing it open, waving eagerly at Sunoo, who sat bend over his desk in his room. My movements must've been wild enough for him to see, before I knew it his window stood open as he just frowned at me.

"Our travel is free!" I yelled out and his eyes widened at me, "meet me by the wall in the West!"

I grinned widely as I let my window stand open and I rushed back to grab my bag and slip on my boots before I quite literally jumped down the stairs in the appartment building, meanwhile peolpe in the other appartments stood out by the staircase looking at each other with confusion.

When the cold November air hit me I would've thought I would be freezing from not wearing a coat, but the adrenaline rushing through me, and my fast heartbeats immediately and easily warmed up my whole body.

My grin spread over my whole face as I followed after the stream that was running down the streets, a car in between the crowd slowly moving forward among the masses.

Without hesitation I rushed over towards the nearest car and crawled up on the back of it and up onto the roof, where I made myself comfortable while it drove through the street.

It didn't drive fast, but I still felt some sort of freedom by how the cold air brushed through my hair and the sound of the engine. Around me people were happily chattering, excited to see the West or get reunited with old family members they haven't seen in a long time. 

As the car neared the gate to the West I felt my breath hitch in my throat and a knot form in my stomach. Anxiously I began fumbling with the straps of my bag as I looked straight ahead, right at the crowd in the West that stood ready waiting for us to cross over into their part of Berlin.

The crowd the car had followed slowly dissolved and let the car get ahead of everyone else as we reached the gates. As the car slowly got a bit more speed I grabbed onto the railings that can on top of the roof.

My bag was tugged tightly under my knees as I held onto the car with one hand and the other made itself busy with wiping away a few tears that trickled down over my cheeks. I was supposed to go to the West with mom and dad when we got the chance.

The car barely made it into the west before the next crowd surrounded us and people began happily clapping and patting the car. I felt a pair of arms wrap around me and pull me down onto the ground, along with my bag. I was immediately brought into a tight hug.

"Welcome to the West sweetie," a woman's voice spoke and even though I didn't know that voice I still hugged her back as I sucked in a deep breath.

I had finally escaped to the West with my life intact.