Whispers Of Dissent

Chapter One: Bound By Tradition

I sat at my desk, the dim glow of the lamp casting long shadows across the worn pages of my diary. As I dipped my pen into the inkwell, I couldn't help but feel a surge of frustration bubbling within me. Life as an East German felt stifling, suffocating even. Pathetic, I scrawled across the page, a bitter indictment of the restrictions that bound me.

In the distance, the faint echo of laughter drifted through the window, a stark reminder of the freedoms enjoyed by those on the other side of the Wall. The West, with its capitalist ideals and promises of liberty, seemed like a distant dream, tantalizingly out of reach.

I heard whispers from friends in West Germany, tales of a life unshackled from the chains of oppression that we, here in the East, called the Soviet Union.

My mom was calling out for my name, to see what's on the news. I had rolled my eyes, cause I didn't want to see what's on the news, second the opressors had made the news they won't tell all but what's favorite about them and won't tell a single soul about anything else. The Soviet Union had been funding us to believe that we are living good and the west is just bad in general, but that sounds so different compared to what my friends in the West had said.

I had gotten out of my bed and went to the living room in which my father was in there too and told me "Sit down and watch the news you probably learn something instead of your fucking friends who tell you shit thats not true."

I rolled my eyes and when he saw that he got up and slapped me hard enough that I ended up hitting the ground. My cheek had sting from the area he had slapped, my heart wanted to cry but my mind said no to get up and stand up against him cause I am sick and tired of him using his power around as a Stasi to boss me and my mom around.

I gotten up as she mumbles something under my breath right before my father could do anything I ran back to my room, while my mom is holding him back from letting him lay another hand on me. I slammed my door and locked it. It was 9:56 at night as I laid on my bed and started at my ceiling. I asked myself we have so much but why am I getting so little, it is in the cost of putting people in gulags just for not hearing for the government.

I had at up for a while looking at my mirror I had gotten off my bed and went to my mirror and seeing all of my photos with me friends Emma, Hans, Lila, Mila and Carter. All currently in the West side of Germany while me here on the oppressive side.

I got up and started packing my stuff it was 10:05 in the night right now, I see stasi walking around as I could see them through my mirror and the nightlights, I took a deep breath rather still gathering all of my stuff my father won't be a problem cause I know he works in the morning, but another problem on top of that is if he finds me missing that's going to be a big problem.

But I remembered what Emma had told me when she had escaped to West Germany. She told me to watch in where I was going, watch out for Stasi, get across the border and importantly don't draw attention to yourself.

I looked at the letter in which Emma had gave me,

"Sorry if I can't be there I had to leave to live a life I wanted.
I wish I could be there and take you with me but it would to be risky not just for me but for you my angel.
I know what your parents had done to you.
West Germany isn't just capitalism but freedom in which your dreams as an artist can come true.
I promise when the wall thats separating us will disappear and we can be together again.
Happy birthday 18th my darling"

I had cried after the letter but I went to be and promised to wake up when my parents are gone so I could get out the house freely and no problems. While I was going to sleep I had remembered what Emma had said go to her brother Maximilian or her girlfriend Celia to get some protection but the problem is her brother is part of Stasi and Celia place is 78 miles from hers. I sighed as I went to sleep while everything ready for me to go.

I woke up, it was 3:45 in the morning as she got ready. She had put some dark clothes on to not be suspicious. I had went to the safe room as I had taken from money to be exact 2000 Dollars enough for her so if she goes to Emma's brother or her girlfriend she would have enough for the ride. I had gotten my backpack and walked out the back door. I looked at the moon and ran into the night avoiding every Stasi out here. Knowing that I will have to take a breath as I continued walking knowing that my choices and my skills have to take me to the other side.