Love Knows No Sides

Chapter 34

"I'm so sorry, I didn't know..." I apologized as I knew what it was like to not have parents or a family home, especially since I recently remembered and fully realized it while talking to Monika. At the same moment, the German got up from the table to look out at streets covert with dirty and melted snow.

"It's alright..." I couldn't see his face but I knew he was smiling with bitterness. "My mother was ill and my father committed suicide. That's all." He explained briefly. I was surprised that he explained everything to me in one sentence. I really felt sorry for him. He has been through a lot and now he was in a foreign country where even his compatriots weren't very fond of him as he was helping us, his enemies. In addition, I was overwhelmed by the fresh situation of Monika and Arek. How much evil still lurks in this world? Now I had no resistance. I didn't care if he was German or Polish or whatever. All I care was the fact that he was a good man with good heart. Nothing else mattered at the moment. I just couldn't take it anymore. I needed a hug so without any word I hugged him. I wasn't thinking on how Alex would react but I had a feeling he needed it too. For a moment he stood still without any movement, without any reaction or word of surprise, until finally he turned to face me and embraced me tenderly. I don't know why but it was a nice feeling to hide my face in his broad arms. He was breathing calmly but his heart was pacing. I could hear it beating fast and nearly bursting out of his chest, though mine did exactly the same. I was going crazy from the adrenaline rush and from being close to the person I cared about. Yes, I must admit that. The truth is, I cared about Alex and I couldn't lie to myself anymore. Mateusz was right, I can deceive everyone around me, even myself, but I cannot deceive my own heart. And that hurts the most. Now it's just a matter of getting used to the thought and the situation. I mean, I didn't know if Alex would want to be with me because he was so busy with work right now, and the war was still going on. Dangerous times...

When we finally hung up, we were both embarrassed and didn't speak to each other. I realized that what I did was bold and quite inappropriate at the same time because how can a Polish cleaning lady (and neighbor) snuggle up to a German soldier who has an important work to do. However, Alex soon broke the silence. What he said shocked me to the core...