Scarred Roses

Chapter three: unanswered questions

A parade was thrown, as I'd predicted, and it was a grand celebration. The residents of Bolen emerged from their homes, just as worn and pale and thin as I was, staring in wonder at the hoard of soldiers; Russian, British and even American, marching through the town with their heads held high. They smiled at us, beckoned us, asked us why we were shut away in our houses when we could be out there, celebrating the end of the war alongside them. We hadn't been so jovial in a long time, but deep down we must've had it in us still. For the former Mayor, now reinstated, had worked as hard as anyone to throw a parade fit for a King! Flowers were picked from every garden and used to make garlands and crowns, housewives who found themselves drowning in fresh butter and eggs made enough cakes and biscuits to feed two armies, and anybody who owned an instrument gathered together in the community hall to practice their marching music. After just a days' work of preparation, the entire town had banded together and showed the soldiers that we were more than just a simple country-village. I liked to think they were very impressed, but with the way they smiled, one could never tell. A small part of me felt like they'd given those smiles to every village they liberated-to instill some hope.

Still, we did have an awful lot of fun. Ingrid came to our house and we got ready together; donning red dresses and white stockings, like Poland's flag and the parades color-theme. I painted a white rose onto Ingrid's left-cheek, she painted a red bloom on my right, and we made each other a crown of red and white flowers to wear on our heads. I thought Ingrid looked rather pretty, dressed up. Being pushed behind two, vain older-sisters for most of her life, Ingrid excluded herself from competing with them by dressing plainly most of the time, only ever wearing makeup on special occasions. At the parade she looked just as nice as they did-to their dismay. I could still envision their soured faces as she flounced by, catching the eye of at least three, young men in the village.

Even now, in the late afternoon, the party was still ever-lively. Which was why I found myself sneaking away from the festivities, and onto the peaceful grounds of Liliowy Park to get a break from it all. Wading through the thick, lush grass, eventually finding my special, little place near the most beautiful lake I'd ever set eyes on. I'd been coming here since I was eleven. After a particularly vicious argument with my sister, I ran away from home, thinking they really wouldn't want me this time, and in my despair, I found this place. There was nobody here to tell me to leave or talk at me like I needed to be lectured. Just the whistle of the trees, the crisp, gentle winds, and the sparrows to make subtle company. I've been visiting ever since. I came here now whenever I needed to think, get away from the crowd, or just be myself. Right now was one of those occasions.

The petals of the Lilac trees were just beginning to fall, paving the way for autumn next month. They fluttered with the breeze, falling onto my face and dress to clash against the red-and-white. Like purple snow, I thought, as I scooped a handful and watched it drift away. I loved the smell of Liliowy in the summertime; made up of Lilac trees, rose-hedges and hyacinths, it must've been like living near a perfume laboratory.

A rustle from a nearby shrub cut through the comfortable silence. Oh dear! If someone else was here, I didn't want to be discovered. They'd never leave me alone if they knew this was the hiding place I went off to. I started to get up, brushing the lilac petals off my dress and stockings before I made a move to go. If I was lucky, I still might be able to get my hands on some of those raisin biscuits being given away at the parade stalls.

Out of all the times, I really didn't think I was going to be grabbed again, much less without warning. Whoever it was shot out from behind; putting one arm around me to restrain my arms, and clamping the other hand down, tight on my mouth. Oh no they won't! I wasn't going to let myself be taken so easily again. So I fought against my attacker, for everything it was worth. I writhed, I thrashed, I tried to bite his hand, but the kicking was more successful. I got whoever it was, good in the shin before I tried to run, only to fall when they caught hold of my skirt. I tried to shuffle away, thinking I'd break into a run as soon as I could before the attacker caught up with me. Working their way up until they were straddling my hips. The...the guest! Oh god, again?!