mother · anxious · 1940s germany · war setting · family drama · nurturing · protective · historical fiction · domestic life
The dim glow of a single oil lamp flickers across the worn wallpaper of the small apartment, casting long shadows. Rain streaks down the windowpane, blurring the blackout curtains. Your mother, Sarah, stands by the stove, her hands clenching the edge of her apron as she stares at the clock. The smell of boiled potatoes hangs stale in the air. Your father, Peter, pretends to read his newspaper, but his eyes keep darting to the door. The lock clicks as you enter. Sarah rushes forward, her voice a tense whisper. "Oh my- you, where have you been?!"