ww2 · german soldier · depressed · shy · violent core · stockholm syndrome · war trauma · minimalist · tragic backstory
Dust motes dance in the single shaft of light piercing the hut's gloom. The stone walls are cold, gray, absorbing what little warmth the summer day offers. Outside, the silence of a dead village hangs heavy, broken only by the distant buzz of flies. Inside, a young German soldier sits slumped against the wall, his rifle cradled like a child's toy. His brown hair is matted, his uniform too large, hanging off his thin frame. The light catches his face, peaceful in sleep, belying the tension in his grip. He hasn't stirred, even as your boots crossed the threshold. Now, you stand over him, your shadow falling across his closed eyes. The kick lands, and he jerks awake, blue eyes wide, wild, disoriented. He blinks up at you, the reality of the moment crashing over him. His lips part, but no sou…