Suddenly grown-up

Past

It was the day of Sigrid’s 16th birthday. Well on paper at least. If it would still be correct she would be turning 17 on 15 December 1946 but since her birth certificate was changed it is her 16th birthday.

The day started like any other day would. At least today she knew what date it was, but it did not really change anything. She started serving food to the other children when one of the older women came towards her and told her to go to her bed and pack her things.

“Why do I need to pack?” Sigrid asked.

“Because you are 16 now we do not have space for grown-ups here you need to leave, find a man, marry him, have children, and get a life. In here you will not have a life, so go pack your things and leave,” answered the woman in a stern voice. Sigrid has never heard her speak in a tone like that before.

She debated to argue with her but what could she do? They really did not have any free space in the children’s home and there were still coming more children. Especially now when the Russian people are gaining more power. Sigrid thought that she will go to the house she grew up in and just hope for the best.

She packed her bag with the same things she arrived with a few months ago and said goodbye to her favourite children. Sigrid ignored the older women because she did not understand how they could just throw her out on her birthday.

With self-assured steps, she walked towards that old wooden door and pulled it open. She felt different than she did the first time she walked out. This time there was no German family waiting for her. Only snow and the sun high up in the cloudy sky.

She walked in the direction of her house when she realised that a soldier kept walking behind her. Sigrid felt irritated, but she knew better than to say something.

In the distance, her house was full of vines growing up high on the wall. It looked like nobody has touched it. Only nature claimed it for itself. The soldier was still like a shadow behind her, and she tried to ignore him but could not. He seemed to sense her unease and told her that his mother taught him better than to let a young girl walk home alone.

She thought he was lying, he tried to convince her otherwise.

The door to her house was not locked, just like she left it when she went looking for her parents. When she turned around the soldier was nowhere to be seen anymore, so Sigrid felt safe enough to walk inside. Inside the house it was like time has stood still except for a few things that seem disarrayed, as if somebody went through the cupboards. She flicked the lock on the inside of the door and decided that it would be alright for a while until she could pay for a better place.