Forget Yesterday, What About Tomorrow? (Countryhumans)

Chapter 8: Stop fate

Although the food on their plates wasn't anything special, everyone sitting at the table was eating it almost as if it was their last meal. Of course, it might be. You can never be sure in this house.

There was no chatter at the dinner table, as those were the rules. And although he wasn't here, everybody stayed dead quiet. Maybe if DDR was here, there would be some occasional conversation, but as per usual lately, Poland had just taken their food to their room. So remaining were the usual countries, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania at one side of the table, facing Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. There were many seats left empty, the obvious one at the end of the table, but also some seats next to Bela, for Kazakh and Uzbek, who were still working on the fields. Since Estonia wasn't allowed outside, Ukraine had brought them their meal. If it could even be called that. It would never make sense to her, how he'd make them work for just one piece of bread and a potato for a whole day... sometimes even longer.

At least the sounds of forks clashing with the plates could be heard before, but suddenly the whole hall was left in complete silence. It was like everyone turned to stone all at once, as they heard the front door smash shut. Not even a breath could be heard. The look on everyone's faces was blank, wide eyes with a mouth slightly agape. But soon the dread set in. Then the panic.

Everyone quickly shovelled the remaining food down their throats and stood up from their spot on the chairs, making sure not to make a single sound. Meanwhile, Estonia quickly set up a plate and silverware at the end of the table, where their father would soon be sitting. Once she finished, everybody had already scurried off to a safer place, avoiding an encounter with the union. And she also noticed that nobody had cleaned up her plate. There were footsteps already coming her way, there was no chance she could finish her food that quickly. The sound of her racing heart almost overpowered the sound of her rushed footsteps. After picking up her plate, she practically ran towards the kitchen, but unfortunately before she could even pass the room's threshold, she heard the voice of the monster.

''ЭССР.''

Her body trembled every time she was forced to listen to that combination of letters she had the misfortune of calling her name. It was almost as if every function of her body had stopped while she waited for the man to approach.

''None of us expected him to show up! We didn't even have the table set for seven-'' There was no way to stop the tears flowing down her cheeks anymore as she recalled her nightmare. Her memory.

''Estonia, this is the exact nightmare you described to me almost fourteen years ago when we first met for counselling...'' WHO sounded extremely disappointed as he shook his head at her rambling.

''I know the others didn't mean to leave me, they were just trying to save their own skin- but oh god, he didn't give me food for a week after that!'' another sob wracked her body as she recalled the pain.

''Estonia, please! Breathe in, and out. Calm down.''

Trying to let WHO's calming voice guide her, she stabilized her breathing and took a napkin out of the box he had pushed towards her. The feeling of her wet eyelashes clashing as she blinked always disgusted her after she'd come down from the heightened emotion of a panic attack. There was always this regret after lashing out again, being too over-dramatic. But thankfully this was a professional, so she didn't feel quite as embarassed.

''Now tell me, have you had the forest nightmare yet?''

''No?'' her voice sounded almost pathetic as she let out a small sniffle, drying her wet cheeks and eyes with the napkin. The clock on the wall read 17:45. This was definitely not how she was planning on celebrating her independence.