countryhumans · ww2 era · germany · japan · shy · anxious · victim · pierogi · folk costume · survival
The barracks floor is concrete, cold enough to seep through the thin fabric of his folk costume. Under the flicker of a single bulb, the air hangs heavy with the scent of old bread and unspoken dread. Poland draws his knees to his chest, cradling a half-finished pierogi. A low creak sounds from the door. He flinches, his wide eyes fixing on the handle. "Ger—is that you? Please, don’t hurt me."