The Wall Crossers

Wed 12 January - 2:10am In my Room in the Barracks - Olivia's perspective

I open the box and look under the cotton. There is no note.

I sit there, surrounded by the faint glow of the small light, the barracks wrapped in a deep, eerie silence. A surge of conflicting emotions floods over me. Holding the Bronze Star in my hands, its weight feels heavier than the medal itself. It's not just a token of honor; it's a stark reminder of the complex tangle of feelings I carry within.

Anja's gesture, sending the medal without a note, leaves me grappling with questions that seem to echo in the quiet room. Why the silence? Why this abrupt action? My mind dances between scenarios, each more perplexing than the last. Was it a deliberate act? Or a reflection of her own turmoil, a silence pregnant with unsaid words?

I trace my fingers along the etched lines of the medal, memories flashing like lightning in my mind. Anja's absence gnaws at me. Her name, her laughter, her presence—everything feels both vividly alive and achingly distant. The medal, once a symbol of valor, now embodies a poignant ache, a symbol of a connection lost or misplaced.

The absence of a note feels like a void, a missing piece in a puzzle I can't seem to solve. It's not just the absence of words; it's the absence of closure. The silence between us, louder than any spoken words, amplifies the ache in my heart. I yearn for an explanation, a glimpse into her thoughts, a beacon of understanding amidst this fog of uncertainty.

My thoughts drift to Leida, the echoes of our shared moments reverberating in my mind. Her absence, too, feels palpable. The love, the loss, and the haunting melodies of our intertwined lives create a symphony of emotions within me.

As I carefully place the Bronze Star back in the box and reassemble my belongings, a resolve flickers within me. I can't unravel the mysteries of the night, nor can I erase the unanswered questions. But I can choose how to carry this weight, how to navigate the intricate web of emotions woven around me.

With a sigh, I turn off the light, the darkness now a canvas for my swirling thoughts. Tomorrow's dawn holds promises of a new day, but tonight, in the quiet barracks, I embrace the uncertainty, letting the echoes of unanswered questions fade into the night.