The Fear Between Us

Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Back to reality.

I woke up in a startle, almost like I was trapped in a nightmare that I couldn't escape. I searched the bed for Josephine only to find an empty space. Was it... a dream? I sit up looking around the room for any signs of her but everything inside this room is mine, a wave of disappointment washes over me as I plop back down groaning before I hear a quiet creak by the door which makes me jolt up leaving me to see Josephine smiling that's a little surprised, "Oh, you're awake! I just went to fetch our coffee. I didn't know how you liked yours, so I just grabbed a few packets of sugar." She chirps and without realizing it I was smiling at the relief coursing through my veins from seeing her, it wasn't a dream, "I thought you left." That's all I'm able to say through my overload of happiness, "I was going to." Josephine responds but it's enough to make me appreciate this moment even more, "What? Why are you looking at me like that?" She asks now smiling too, "Nothing, you're just beautiful." I say making her blush a little as she turns her face away, but I don't push it. She truly is beautiful. Josephine hands me my coffee and two packets of brown sugar, I usually take two but seeing as it's brown I only take one. Josephine places her cup down as she climbs back on the bed snuggling up against me, for a while, we just lay there in complete comfortable silence.

A few minutes go by before I eventually break the silence, "What's the time?" I ask as Jo sits up to check the time on the clock in the room, "A little past seven," she answers before silence fills the room again before she interrupts it, "The general has called for a meeting." She adds with a sigh, "Oh? What's it for?"

"I don't know, one of the cadets told me this morning."

"When is it?" I question now a little confused and curious, "Around 8." Josephine answers before groaning and sitting up giving both of us the message that it's time to get ready now.

Josephine and I both get ready at our paces; she was ready first since she woke up earlier whereas I took a few extra minutes to put myself properly together. We eventually leave my room trying to act natural as we make our way towards the boardroom. The closer we get the louder the chatter becomes from the door making me worry more with each step, I open the door leading Josephine to walk in first as the General smiles at our arrival, "Good morning, sir," I start, "are we late?" I ask politely still standing on attention before he dismisses me, "No, Sergeant but since we are here, we might as well begin." The general states as Josephine and I make our way towards the table. On the surface lays a map marked with all the lower-class areas, one of them being the house that I was supposed to grow up in. For a moment I stare at the map confused trying to take it all in, "Now, I called for this meeting to discuss the rising matters regarding the recent war. The president has passed a law saying that we are to clear out all these homes regarding this coastline by the end of the month, we start at 14h00. Sharp." The general concludes as I sink into my chair, "But immigrants live there. Are we just supposed to kick them out because they don't belong? They came here for refuge." Before I knew it my mouth had run its course leaving all eyes to fall on me, "I don't care, soldier. You have you an order, and that order is to get rid of anyone that doesn't belong here."

"But isn't that what an immigrant is? Someone who moves from one place to another foreign one?"

"The law is final. Starting at 2 p.m., you will clear out those houses of all immigrants."

"But I'm an immigrant."