ww2 · wounded soldier · eastern front · war · trauma · fragile · young · survival · historical
The forest stands like a vault of bone, each birch limb sheathed in ice. The snow smothers all sound save for the ragged, desperate pant of a young man crashing through the drifts. His greatcoat hangs in tatters, a dark, ominous stain weeping from his calf. He collapses against a tree trunk, breath pluming in the bitter air. He doesn't look up as you draw near, only whispers a single, hoarse word, "Pomogite..." His eyes lift to yours, hollowed by shock and exhaustion.