Chapter 5

I have already managed to acclimatize in the apartment of Grandma Pola and her grandson Mateusz. As it turned out, the boy was my peer and despite the initial reluctance, we started to get along somehow.

I mainly helped Grandma in the kitchen, because I personally loved cooking and baking. Usually, it was me who cooked meals in my family home. Mateusz was taking up some of what we were cooking and baking. It was hard to hide that he had a liking for the German who lived there, in the end he saved his parents from death. For now, I still didn't want to have anything to do with the soldier living above us, so I didn't leave my apartment at all, and when he came to us, I locked myself in my room. Grandma explained it was not nice, but I still couldn't bear to be around him. I understood that there could be even a hint of goodness in Alexander, but I preferred to be safe than sorry. And by the way, I finally found out how I ended up in Kołobrzeg.

The German and his unit were to go to Mrzeżyno, a small town, to investigate a matter, and when they were passing through the Rega river, he noticed me lying on the shore and barely breathing. He ordered the car to be stopped and, with the help of a few other Germans, they packed me into the car and Alex covered me with his coat. At least that's what Mateusz told me after talking to him. The German told me to say that he was worried about me and that he would like to meet me someday. I categorically refused. I wasn't ready to meet him yet. First I had to get over the loss of everything I had so far, and only then to become acquainted with the enemy. Okay, maybe not an enemy, because in the end I owe him what I have now, but I will not call him a friend or an ally, what not!

One day Grandma asked me to bring him a cake that we had baked. I defended myself like Satan from holy water, but eventually she managed to send me upstairs. I don't think I've ever climbed stairs longer than now. I climbed each step slowly and uncertainly, as if the entire structure was about to collapse, and I was about to collapse with it and the cake. When I finally got upstairs and stood in front of his door, I looked around anxiously, as if I was afraid someone would notice me, but who could be watching me right now but God? And maybe Grandma Pola and Mateusz, who quietly entered the staircase and listened. They really wanted me to like Alex. I don't know why, I think they just wanted to show me that I was safe with him.

After a long moment of thought, I finally slowly clenched my right hand into a fist and knocked on the wooden door. There was no answer. I breathed a sigh of relief that maybe he had gone somewhere. However, the culture required that I try again, so I did. I was already starting down the stairs with triumph painted on my face when the door suddenly opened.

"Hey, it's you, beautiful girl." He called after me in a sleepy, albeit joyful voice. I guess he was glad I finally visited him. Reluctantly, I stopped and turned around.

"Hey." I greeted him with shyly, trembling voice.

"Come in." He invited me in, and I considered the proposition for a moment. Pride or politeness? Which of these would win?