Second Chances

Chapter 1-Decisions

Chapter 1-Decisions

I was a solider in the second great war. The war that destroyed half of Europe. The war that changed everything. The war that killed hundreds of thousands of innocent people. The war that killed me.

I was only seventeen when Hitler started to conquer the lands of Europe, one by one, searching for those who were like me. He ordered his men to dispose of anyone who was not blue-eyed and blond haired. That is how he wanted the world to be, that it what he considered the perfect race; the Aryan race as it is called.

I wasn't one of them. I had brown hair that is the same shade as my eyes. My skin was fairly tan from working long hours in the sun. You see, I earned my pay by helping the fishermen out on the dock, skinning and cutting the fish and delivering them to the market afterwards.

I started to work at the dock when I was merely fifteen, which would be considered young in this day and age. It was considered young back then too but I thought that it was better to work than to go to school. My family was poor and we barely kept a roof over our heads and that was why I decided to get a job working for a few Euros a day. My father worked as a shoe shiner, while my mother was a maid for an aristocratic family. My sister, Emma, was too young to work but on rare occassions she would go with my mother and help to cook or clean at the house. Even though, the Hannocks-that was the family that my mother worked for-were rich, it didn't necessarily mean that they paid well. In fact, my mother recieved a little over fifty Euros a month, which transfered to American money would mean a little over sixty dollars.

My family and I lived a simple life. Even though, we were poor and struggled to make ends meet, we were happy. I've never known people to be as happy as my family was. I still remember my father's horrible loud singing during dinner and my mother laughing as she tried not to spill her drink. My sister would be in the corner smiling and shaking her head, telling him to stop his nonsense. I sometimes would go along with my father and sing with him while mom and Emma laughed at us.

But that all ended once Hitler's terror began in 1939.

Europe was under war with one man and his army for years before America got involved, but it wasn't enough to stop him from moving forward and onto the countries surrounding Amsterdam. Nothing would stop him from killing Jews or anyone that wasn't of Aryan race. Once news of Hitler's army reached the city, my family and I quickly hid underneath a secret cellar of a young American couple. We had known them a few months prior to their moving to our city and became very aqquainted with them. They offered us safety once the war reach in Amsterdam in 1942. They knew that we were going to be in danger just because of what we looked like. My family and I were eternally grateful and we accepted their hospitality and hid.

We needed to survive, at least that is what I thought at first. Janie and Grant were generous and treated us with nothing but kindness. But living in the darkness of the cellar became to much to bear. It was like being caged in like an animal without any air. A few weeks passed and I just couldn't live like that anymore.

I decided to join the fight to end Hitler's reign of terror. My father pleaded with me to stay with them. He was frightened of what would happen to me out there and his fear was losing his son, his only son. I remember Emma begin to cry once I announcd my leaving. My mother had taken her to a far corner of the cellar and tried to calm her tears as my father tried to reason with me.

"Alexander, don't be rash! Think of what is happening out there! As soon as you step out of the safety of these walls, you will be killed!" He gripped my shoulders and shook me. "Son, please stay her where it is safe until its over."

I stepped back and began to pace. Internally, I was fighting a war. I had no idea what I wanted to do. I had to make a choice whether to stay here with my family or go out and fight for them. There was no turning back on the decision that I had made that day. I didn't say anything for a few minutes as I thought about what I would choose. Then I turned and walked over to my father who had sat down on the floor.

The choice I had made were the last words that I ever spoke to my family.

I knelt down beside my father and took his hand. There was a slight tremor in my voice when I began to speak but I willed it to go away because I needed to be strong. I needed to be strong for them. "I am sorry father, but I can't stay here and hide like a coward when men my age are dying for their country. I need...no. I want to go and fight for us. I want to help and end this."

My mother had come behind me and put her hand on my shoulder, a sign that she was giving me her strengh. I reached over and put my hand on top of hers, needing her to understand. I looked at my father's sad eyes and continued, "I can't hide any longer. I have to do something. I feel useless here while people are dying. I can't sit here and do nothing. I promise I'll come back for all of you once its over."

I slowly got up and walked over to the door that lead to the house. I had to muster all my strength to not shed a tear and so I didn't even give them a hug good-bye. I knew that if I did then I would have crumbled and all the courage that I had would dwindle down to nothing. I took a step on the stairs before I heard Emma calling my name.

"Alex, wait!"

I looked back and saw her running towards me with a piece of cloth in her hand. "I want you to have this but I want it back once you return."

I took the piece of cloth in my hand and opened to see what was inside. I was suprised to see what she was offering. "I can't take these Em, you know I can't." I pushed the coin necklace back towards her but she shook her head and laid her hand on top of mine.

"No, keep it for good luck. You'll need it out there but of course it is temporary." She smiled up at me and I saw the tears reflected in her eyes.

"Oh, Em." I leaned in and hugged her, willing myself to be strong for her, for me. She began to gently sob into my chest and I heard her whisper "not to go". I couldn't tell you how much it hurt to leave her behind, to leave them all behind. There aren't words to describe it.

Letting go of Emma was one of the hardest things that I had ever had to do. She was my little sister and I couldn't bear to walk away from her. I was suppose to look after her and now she was the one looking at me walk away. I took Emma's coin necklace and put it around my neck, the cold copper rested on my chest, as I walked up the stairs into a world full of termoil.

*****

~Author's Note~

So what do you guys think??? Was it to fast-paced? Do I need more exposition?? I need opinions guys!! lol is it interesting? Should I continue it? I'm sorry if my historical facts are wrong but its something new for me. lol I really want to know what you guys think of it and if they are any suggestions I am all ears :) I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Nadie_Rae because she made the awesome cover for the story! I'll also be posting another cover that a friend made because it was equally awesome!! :D

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