Chapter 35

He looked at me with a gentle and apologetic smile on his lips.

" I didn't expect that but... That was nice. Thank you." I blushed and realized the importance of this crazy and spontaneous act. "Did you miss me?"

"I... I... " I was both so surprised and embarrassed that I couldn't utter a single meaningful word neither in Polish nor in English. My tongue seemed to take on a life of its own and effectively made it difficult for me to communicate. "Yes, I missed you." I admitted it finally. I was so embarrassed by the situation that I wanted to run away to the apartment below without a word, and I probably would have if he hadn't been hugging me at that moment.

"I missed you too." He looked at me with loving look. "If you don't mind, we can stay like that a bit longer..." Even though I felt terribly embarrassed about it all, it was a nice feeling and experience. I've never felt anything like it before. It was my the very first time someone hugged me in such a tender way and I felt something for this someone and, unfortunately, I was aware of it. I wouldn't want to know what my late mother or brother would think if they found out that I have a special affection for a German soldier, a representative of that sinister nation that robbed them of their lives, and robbed me of my family and home. There was still the question of my father, who may have been wandering around the world somewhere, if he was still alive. He wouldn't care about my relationships as he had never considered me his own child. It only reminded me of pain, orders, screaming and alcohol. I took a deep breath and then slowly breathed out. I'm somewhere else, with a person who cares about me.

After Alex finally let me go, I finished cleaning his apartment and left. Of course, I said goodbye to him when I was leaving. I was trembling so much with excitement after this visit that I barely went down the stairs and got to my room in the apartment of Grandma and Mateusz, where I locked myself alone with my thoughts. Both my head and heart were racing like crazy and wouldn't stop for anything in the world. I still remembered the pleasant warmth and Alex's tender touch. I felt like an idiot. I missed him already. My heart longed. And the heart is stupid when it insists...