The Unseen: An All Quiet on the Western Front story.

Farm Girl. (Chapter One.)

Stuck in the same cage, her own home, where not even she could find solace.

My eyes open to the same ceiling, the faint whistle of trees and the thump of feet around the homes floor, it was time to get up. I kick my legs off my bed and watch myself from my vanity mirror, i looked like shit - but so did everyone else, i got up and headed to the bathroom, where i got washed and ready for the day.

When i leave, i'm met with what felt like a barrage, my sister - Sara - trotting up to me like a madman. "Uliana!" She called, "Sister!" I look at her dead in the eye then, awaiting whatever she was on about. "Sara, Sara." I repeat. "Mummy needs to talk to you." She said, before walking right past me, for god sake.

I head downstairs, where my mother stood, the sink cloth over her arm as she turned around. "Good morning, my love." She said with a smile. "Good morning mum, Sara said you needed to see me?" I ask, although i had an idea of what it could've been. "Ah- yes." She said, putting the cloth on the table, before folding one hand over the other, knew it. "You know father and i have been investing into a husband for you, and we have found a perfect suitor." She says, a glint of glee in her eyes, as much as i knew this made her happy, i dreaded it with a passion, every man was either too old, too crass, or - my favourite, too BORING. When did men get so unbelievably boring? I constantly thought, but anyway, this wasn't about what i wanted - clearly - and i'd been standing there, waiting for some sort of introduction. "Who is the suitor?" I say, giving my best feigned smile. "Instead, i thought you'd meet him in person, but i'm sure you have heard of the local farmer." She said, to which i freeze. "You mean, the elder farmer just out of town?" I say, to which he nods with excitement hands. "He makes a great fortune him, and he needs the extra help." She says. "I am to marry him?" I ask, she had to be joking, but to my surprise she nods. "You'll have to tend to his needs, he is an elder and the man." She says, turning back around, I'm shock, utterly baffled even. That she'd pull this right out and not give me any room to argue. "Well." I say finitely. if you need me, i'll be in town." I say, to which she hums.

My mind is in depths, what was i going to do? i'm only 17, and i'm being married off to a man who can't even get out of bed? This was absolutely infuriating, was i so little to her? i don't even know the man.

I lean against the brick of a building, contemplating everything as best i could, did. she have good intentions? And why did she have to choose an old chap of all people? — my head turns to a poster plastered next to me, it was an enlistment for the war, it wrote 'Dein Vaterland ift in gefahr!" with a soldier spread in the middle, i thought the war was ridiculous, but it was what happened when men were in power. But anyway, there was a social event in town, it was tedious but it was a good way to avoid home, and pass the time.

Arriving, it was humid and crowded, therefore i stood by the walls, whilst the speaker, well - spoke. To my surprise though, it was a speech about the war, that boys should enlist and fight for our country, to which they cheered, and i felt a jealousy, they could do things like this - go out and be heroes, whilst i was being sold off like some whore. I wasn't having it. My mind started to consider it. Which my heart hesitated, do i really want this? It's the only way out, my mind thought. Until the speaker's voice boomed again, "The schoolboys in Hanover will be graduating to the frontlines soon to be heroes!" He said, this is your chance. My head screamed.

At home, i sat in my room, i needed to leave, i couldn't marry him, no way. I'd rather die on the frontlines than marry an old, id rather die.