The Wall Crossers

Wish I had Stayed in Germany - Now this Dream is Over

Olivia's perspective

Two years have slipped by since that final night with her.

In the dead of night, when the wind guides my steps and the stars alone chart my way forward, my heart wanders to a place distant and aged, a territory foreign enough to disown my very core.

Horst Kullack and the rest, etched as fading white crosses, dared the shadows, battling for justice under the shroud of darkness. Their struggle aimed for a future bathed in light—a West Berliner's freiheit, their claim.

My mind recalls Uncle Richard's arrival in Berlin, 1945—a clearing sky resembling Wansee's deep blue waters. The liberated Germans cheered, welcoming him with such fervor that he, removing his helmet, waved back. That, right there, was pure affection. We, too, inherited that city. It, and its people, belong to us.

Anja surfaces in my thoughts, moments spent rowing a rented boat on the lake among imposing vessels and stunned crews. Our laughter echoed vulnerability, yet we were nothing more than good friends. Just that.

The haunting question persists: Did Leida reach New York? Did she ascend to fame in the fashion and culture circles or remain in Offenburg? Did she marry, create a family? I dare not delve into this realm of knowledge. The fear of discovery lingers. How different could it have been, her and I? Elisa's counsel haunts me; perhaps I should have obeyed. Maybe I should have turned back, pursued my wife, as she urged.

Reflecting on it all, the hindsight reveals my yearning—I wish we had wed, that I had lingered in Germany.

Now this Dream is Over

Third Person perspective

In the end of the dream, three girls are singing to each other, evocatively, emotionally, and wistfully.

Olivia and Leida sit facing each other in the quiet room, the faint strains of a melody lingering in the air. Leida's eyes hold a mix of sorrow and fondness as she glances at Olivia.

"Leida, I will always love you, knowing," Olivia's voice trembles with emotion.

Leida meets her gaze, a small, sad smile tugging at her lips. "Time will heal, though heartaches never end."

Their words hang between them, heavy with the weight of unspoken memories. Olivia reaches out, clasping Leida's hand in hers, the touch a bittersweet comfort.

"And while some happiness the years pretend," Olivia's voice wavers slightly.

Leida squeezes Olivia's hand gently, her eyes glistening. "Desire for you is ever overflowing."

In the corner of the room, Anja stands silently, her presence a silent witness to the conversation unfolding.

"Despairing, knowing loving languished long," Anja finally speaks up, her voice filled with a mixture of understanding and regret.

"Sharing Abbey Road, as our hearts' song," Anja's words hold a quiet nostalgia.

Leida and Olivia exchange a glance, a shared moment of remembrance passing between them. "Sharing what we made to carry on," Leida whispers softly, her voice carrying the weight of their shared history.

The room falls into a contemplative silence for minutes, the echoes of their intertwined emotions lingering even after their voices have faded. Next, the two girls are seated flanking Olivia on either side.

Just as Olivia sits between them, her heart too is torn between Leida and Anja, both of whom are vying for her love. Leida begins, her voice a soft, convincing plea.

"O-li..via," Leida starts, her eyes locking with Olivia's, "I bring certainty. A future vividly painted, our destinies entwined. My beauty, my confidence, a captivating influence that binds us together. Our physical allure, an undeniable force. I love you endlessly, my devotion unwavering. Lizet, our distant daughter, a vision waiting to bloom. Our legacy, our destiny, she must be protected. Just tell me you love me, please!"

Anja leans forward, her voice gentle, sweet, but resolute. "Livie, remember our moments. Humboldthain's roses, Grunewald's whispers, the laughter in shared dinners, the comfort of my home. Affection, harmony, and understanding that transcends words. Our bond, forged through trials like witnessing Horst's sacrifice, emerging stronger, resilient. My tender heart, practicality that makes dreams tangible. We've weathered storms, our love fortified."

The two girls take turns, painting their portraits of love, each stroke distinct, each color vibrant in its own right. Olivia listens, her gaze shifting from one to the other, torn by the allure of both worlds painted so vividly before her.

Leida's words echo with conviction, promising a future ablaze with hot passion and bold certainty, a love anchored by destiny. Anja's voice carries the weight of shared experiences, a tender connection grounded in reality and all those trials endured together.

As the pleas soften into a contemplative silence, Olivia's heart aches with indecision. Her eyes, once filled with adoration, now cast downward, uncertainty clouding her thoughts. She feels torn between the two, unable to make a choice that wouldn't shatter a heart.

"Now this dream is over," Olivia murmurs softly, her voice tinged with sadness, her heart heavy with the weight of an impossible decision. She looks away, her gaze lost in the abyss of uncertainty, unsure of how to navigate the maze of her emotions, leaving Leida and Anja to exchange wistful, quiet gazes, understanding the complexity of love's tangled web.

The room, once filled with melodies of hope and longing, now echoes with the silent ache of an unresolved heart.