Your Silence Hurts Me

Chapter Two

I wake up early the following morning as to not be late for the first day back to classes at the university since the Christmas break. The fact that this is the start to my final college semester has a bittersweet effect on me. While I am happy to be able to finally put my history degree to good use, I am also sad that I will be having to leave the establishment that has become like a second home. It does not help that my final year is starting with the invasion of France by the Germans.

I quietly slip out of the house, since today is my parent's first day off in a long time. A shiver runs down my spine as the cool morning breeze rushes through the fibers of my clothes. While cycling down the street towards the university, I pass by all the places I used to go and hang out at. The only things left of them now are their facades, and even those are barely even standing.

The minute I arrive at the university, I rush to make it on time to my first class, history.

"Over here," Louise yells from across the classroom.

Luckily for me, the professor is also running late.

"You ready for today's exam?", I ask Louise as I sit down in the chair next to her.

Louise heaves a sigh and replies, "Absolutely not. I've studied all I can for it, but you know with my luck I'll still fail it."

"It's mainly remembering all the dates that I find difficult," I state with a sigh.

Louise nods her head in agreement. Just then, the sound of a book slamming down on a table rings through the room. Everyone stops talking and turns their attention towards the teacher's desk. There, a tall man stood looking at all of the us with a snarl on his face. His face is pale, with sunken cheeks that make his cheekbones protrude in a way that makes me cringe.

"Students," he finally says in a deep tone, "Your professor Mr. Abadie was apprehended this morning for his involvement in the hiding of Jews. A new professor will be assigned to this class within the week. That is all."

With that, he turns away and exits the room. To stunned by the sudden news, we stand in silence. After a while, we all start to just pile out of the room and head to prepare for our next classes.

"I can't believe Professor Abadie was arrested," Louise says.

I do not respond to her statement, as I am to focused on my own thoughts to be concerned with anything else.

"Darn Krauts," I mumble nonetheless.

"What?", Louise asks.

Getting out of my thoughts, I respond, "It's nothing. I have to get to English class. Talk to you later."

Louise smiles and we hug before parting ways.

Once all of my classes are done, I head back home in order to tell my parents about what happened to Professor Abadie. The minute I get home, I bullet through the door and call out for my mother. I see her rush down from upstairs with a look of concern and she asks me what's wrong.

"Professor Abadie was arrested this morning," I blurt out, while still trying to catch my breath.

My mother's eyes widen and she asks, "Why?"

Swallowing deeply, I reply in a lower tone, "He was hiding Jews."

"Oh no," my mother says with a gasp.

Suddenly, there is a knock at the door.

Mother's eyebrows furrow and she asks passively, "Who's that?"

She walks over to the door and opens it up. I peer over my mother's shoulder to see a short and stout man dressed in a German uniform standing on the other side of the door.

"May I help you?", mother asks with a nervous tone.

"I am here to come and move Captain Hans Müller's belongs into his respective room," the man answers bluntly.

Mother smiles weakly and shows the man to the room. I glare daggers at the man as he and my mother make their way up the stairs. Soon after, another man enters the home with two suitcases in either hand. He pays no mind to me and heads straight up the staircase. I huff in frustration at how bad my day has been and continues to be. I decide to go and use my anger as fuel to complete my chores before the sun sets.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Later on that evening, my parents and I are sitting in front of the fireplace anxiously waiting for the Captain to arrive. The room is dead silent, which allows me to enjoy the sound of the fire crackling. It is a sound that has become my main source of peace since the war began. Slowly, I find myself slouching more and more into the sofa. However, just as I am about to let my heavy eyelids rest, a deep, yet calm male voice say, "Bonsoir." 

My eyes bolt open, and I quickly stand up from the sofa. My parents also stand up away from the fire and face the man. Awkward silence fills the room as both parties do not know what to say next.

His left arm is crooked holding his hat as his right dangles aimlessly at his side. The waves of his blonde hair shine as the gleam from the firelight cascades upon them. He isn't short nor tall. However, the material of his uniform jacket lies taught against which hints to him having a muscular physique. He isn't as pale as the other soldiers I have seen loot around our town. Rather, his skin has a type of olive glow that adds a softness to the harsh angles of his jawline.

Eventually, the he speaks, "My name is Hans Müller. Captain Hans Müller. I believe that this is where I shall be staying during my assignment here in France."

My parents do not utter a reply to the officer. He accepts our silence, and decides to just head to his room.

As he is turning to leave the room, he turns back and says, "I would head to my room, but I'm afraid I do not yet know where it is. Could one of you please show me?"

Father looks over at mother as he always does, before walking past the man and leading him upstairs. Before leaving, the officer gives a respectful nod to my mother. His eyes drift to mine and he pauses for a moment, before clicking his heals together and exiting the room.

Once he is up the stairs, mother turns towards me and states, "It seems like he isn't that bad."

"He's still a German," I reply bluntly while trying to ignore the sudden warmth rising to my cheeks.