Behind Enemy Lines

Tenth Entry

November 23, 1943

Dear Nicolai,

I’ve been here for four months to be exact. Things only have gotten worse and every day I fear I might wake up to a gun to my face. The German officer’s in this camp are cruel and inhumane. Just the other day a worker was shot in the head because they sneezed. Could you believe it brother? We can’t even sneeze or we’ll be shot!

More and more Jews are dying each day, most die because they got sick while others committed suicide in their cabins. Another thing that makes this unbearable is the cold winter. The temperature is below zero and we still work, while the Germans laugh and play inside their warm and cozy dorms. I can’t feel my feet and sometimes my body goes numb for hours. Could you believe we get all of this just because we are Jews? I still believe I’m trapped in a nightmare.

Papa is acting very strange. He and the two older men in our cabin have been planning some things and every time Lukas and I return from the fields, they would hush up and pretend we didn’t hear them talking. I overheard papa talk about an escape.  If he’s planning an escape, why won’t he tell me? Is he planning on leaving? Nicolai only you would have the answers. I would ask Mama and Druka but I don’t know where they are. In fact I wonder if they are even alive.

I would say the only thing that’s somewhat good was that Medical officer I talked about. I found out his name is Torren Krysis. He looks to be around twenty one perhaps. He’s kind and gentle, different then most Germans. I actually enjoy going to the medical clinic just to see him. But I don’t enjoy his comrade, Valtren Golvic, a first recon for the German Nazis.

He and Torren were both stationed at this camp, but for how long is anyone’s guess. Valtren curses at us, spits at us and even tries to touch the woman as they work. He’s a monster Nicolai, a monster in a human form. Lukas is afraid of him, just like the rest of us but Torren says to not show fear to him. I admire Torren, but I also have this feeling for him, a feeling that I might regret having.

How are you Nicolai? Are you settled in a nice house with a wife of your own? You’re probably a father by now with a small child. I would say it’s a boy and most likely named after you. I wish I could see the baby, then again I wouldn’t know if you even had a baby.

I know this is just a stupid letter to ease my pain but I wish you can read this and answer back. I wish you were here right now Nicolai. You always knew what to do.

-Your Brother-
Mika

I closed the notebook and carefully placed it back under my bed. It was one in the morning and in five hours we would have to get up to work again. I could hear the soldiers walk around outside our cabins, the tips of their bayonets gliding scornfully against the walls of the cabin.

I closed my eyes and tired to imagine a happy place.

I imagined a warm meadow with pink and purple flowers. Down by the meadow was small creek where frogs and butterflies would dance and play. And standing there by the creek was a tall muscular man, handsome and young. His chocolate brown hair was tucked neatly underneath his officer’s hat, his bright blue eyes contrasted with his outfit. He looked over to me with a genuine smile.

“Hello Mika.” he whispered.

My eyes flashed open, sweat dripped from my brow. I felt my heart hammer against my chest, a feeling of guilt ran through me. I couldn’t believe I dreamt about Torren. I couldn’t believe I dreamt about the enemy.