The Wall Crossers

It is October

​​Olivia's perspective

It is October, and Anja and I are in the KuDamm shopping district standing outside the famous Ka De We department store.

It is getting dark. We stare at each other's refection in the window. Both of us are wearing matching burgundy double-breasted flared wool coats that sweep down to just above the knee, she has black zip up boots, mine are brown, and, under the coat, Twiggy mini-dresses, mine is beige, Anja's is light green, with long-sleeve cotton shirts under the dress, mine is white, hers psychedelic tie-died, both with leggings with alternating back, red and gold bands, like the Flagge Deutschlands—the flag of West Germany, and finally lipstick that matches the coat!

I am taller than Anja, and have quite long hair for an Army haircut—so fab! But of course not as long as Anja's! So we don't resemble each other much, nevertheless I say, "Look, we are almost twins," causing us both to laugh!

"Far out," she says after a bit. Is she talking about our way-out twin look, or something else?

I am looking at Anja in the glass, but I can tell she is thinking not of me... again! Her mind is somewhere far away. I am sure she is thinking of Horst, as always. I sigh.

Anja's Perspective

I am thinking of Elke, and how she invited me to her flat for dinner one day last week. I declined, of course I did!... made some excuse I cannot even now remember. Our close working relationship is the same as before... well, maybe a bit more pinched... strained since that day in September. I never look directly into Elke's beautiful azure eyes, those enticing eyes laced with tiny flecks of pure yellow gold—I avoid that, of course I do! Whenever her body comes close to mine, or if she tries to lock eyes with me, I look away, walk away, pretend to be distracted with some matter of business. We keep our distance—I make certain of that. Elke's, infatuation?... that she seems to have for me?... it is surely because of the admiration she has for my work, although... she is older, more experienced. Also, obviously, more practiced in matters of the heart. She is having many more excursions than me—into the realm of... love.

I see that Livie is staring at me—her reflection in the window! She knows I am somewhere far away. But I am with her, too... Ja wirklich! (Yes, really!) And I have this lovely little present to give her tonight, when just the right moment arrives! This will make things good with us—will clear my heart of momentary temptations of disloyalty... yet again! It will secure her, for me, as more than simply two girls who have strong friendship. This will give her a symbol of our... whatever it is we have... Ja, that... such a far out thing that is drawing us ever closer—we have stepped beyond mere Bekannte (acquaintance)! I am set to do this very same as she did for me last month, so we don't lose each other, this lovely thing we have together, all while I am waiting on a sign that he will be coming—my distant but forever love—my fiancé Horst... coming for me.

But what about Elke? It's not that this so unmistakably breathtakingly gorgeous girl lacks a faszinierend (mesmerizing) charm—she has that in full force—her teasingly soft yet strong round places that urge my nervous fingers to rub at my itchy knees, forcing my weak heart to quail, her eyes bewitching the heavens to stop and stare, her great self-confidence that threatens to overpower my fear of being far too close to her, sweet breathy words that blanket me, disassemble my planner's mind into disturbingly pleasant raw tatters. It is simply my for-certain lack of Kraft (fortitude) to resist if once I suffer collapse in Deutsche Willenskraft (German willpower), give myself over to her! This!... to avoid this is my reason for such desperate motivation—I attach myself to waiting for Horst who will rescue me and I press on with this coquettish love for Livie, that special girl who keeps me straight and true and, well, occupied.

I force a wan smile for this loyal girl who gives me her full heart, this Livie.

Olivia's perspective

She gives me a pale smile, embarrassed to be caught thinking of Horst again? I give my head a slight shake of impatient frustrated desire. I force a wan smile for this desirable girl who may be flirty but possesses my heart already, this Anja.