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As a child Albert never really felt like himself. He always felt like something was missing. Like a giraffe without its spots, he never had confidence. Albert's parents always told him how lucky he was to have clean clothes, food on the table and a big backyard with lots of space to run. But at the end of the day all he wanted was his brother the only one how seemed to care. His brother was 5 years older than him and seemed to have a lot more success than him. Even though his brother had the support of their parents Hermann was nothing like them. He was caring the best big brother in the world.
By the time albert had turned 13 he was already getting into things some his age shouldn’t do. (According to his parents) it didn’t help that his dad was never there for anything, not even his 13th birthday. The only person other than Hermann that seemed to care for albert was his tutor, Gigi. Gigi was blonde with blue eyes and was the mother of three. Albert never understood why no one liked Gigi. Even his brother had a mild hatred towards Gigi.
By the time he was fifteen he had more of an understanding of the world he lived in. tension in Europe where higher than ever, and the people of Germany were starting to have a hatred towards any one that didn’t agree with them. And on the 28 of July of 1914 one of the deadliest wars in history began. The country was quickly put on rishons and fresh food became almost impossible to find overnight.
About a month into the war albert was snuggled up on Hermann's lap. Hermann was the one who had taken care of the house, while all his father did was drink and sleep. It was late when they got a knock on the door. Herman went to open the door; he was greeted with a man in a military uniform. The man’s eyes looked like he’d lived a thousand lives. ‘’may I speak to Mr otto please’’ ‘’yes of course I will go grab him’’ Hermann ran up the stairs as quick as he could to get his father. ‘’father some ones he to see you’’
From what albert gathered his father had been enlisted. And within a few days his father was off to basic training. That day Hermann took albert in his arms and told him the one thing he'd never forget ‘’just remember whatever happens you’ll always have dad in your memories’’ the months following where some of the hardest months of his life, as he realised, he may never see his father again.
With no one to lead the house, Hermann took the leading role in the house cooking, cleaning and most importantly taking care of his little brother. Hermann and albert where always polar opposites, Hermann was always active and loved to play sports. While albert preferred to stay home and read or sometimes listen to the radio, but now they both were working harder than ever to support themselves.
Every night Hermann would try and make something creative with the food that would come with the rations. They normally contained eggs flour milk and a few veggies if they were lucky.
Before starting the food, Hermann was looking at the mail that was sitting on the kitchen bench. there were two letters one addressed to him and one to albert. He opened the one addressed to him. The paper was damp from sitting in the mailbox overnight.
His eyes immediately fixed to the text. His eyes started water he’d been enlisted into the war. But that was not the reason water was flowing from his eyes. It was the fact that there was one more letter with the same military marking addressed to his brother.
Hermann couldn’t bare the thought of his brother going off to war and suffering. All he wanted to do was to crawl up in bed as stay there forever. he knew he’d do anything for albert even take a bullet if that’s what it came down to.
He looked over to the fire crackling in the living room, his brother curled up asleep on the couch. He took the letter addressed to his brother and through it into to the flames, setting it a blaze. He flopped on the couch in anger ready to fight any one to their death if it involved his brother’s safety.
A few hours had pasted when Hermann woke up to the smell of fresh bread and noddles. He looked over to his brother who was dishing out the bread and noodles onto plates ready for them to eat. ‘’thought you may need a bit of a mood booster’’ ‘’ come here’’ Hermann pulled albert onto the couch carefully not to knock the food in his hand, and pulling him into a hug.
Hermann was happy and cheerful on the outside but, on the inside, he didn’t know how much more he could take not knowing if he’d have his little brother for much longer.
by the time the morning, and the world had once again come to life, Hermann found himself sitting in his dads old rocking chair. That he’d helped build when he was younger, wasn’t life easier back then. He thought to himself.
as he went to go back inside a car stopped right on the side of the rode. It looked to be an old mazaedia model that was now used as an army vehicle of soughts. holding a uniform and helmet with the badge dedicated to the 6th armed Prussian division. the solider holding the uniform looked like he had been part of the army’s that turned fields of flowers with children and women gathering flowers into, a bloodbath.
Hermann greeted the man with tears running down his face destroying any hope of keeping his pride he once had for himself. nothing needed to be said between the solider and Hermann, they both knew what had happened. This was the result of war. As he entered the house just has, he had millions of times growing up, but this time there was a difference him and albert where all on their own. There was no one coming to help them this time.
Once inside albert came up behind him giving him hug and whispering the words, he’d once told albert ''just remember you’ll always have dad in your memories ‘’ ‘’albert but’’ don’t we’ll be okay we have each other’’ that night was one of the worst nights of there life not knowing what the future would hold if it would hold anything at all was tariffing to Hermann. What was the next step? Was there a next step? What would become of them? All these questions raced through Herman’s mind.
Right then and there he knew he couldn’t do this anymore. How could he? He walked himself to the too he’s dad’s room, the room where so many memories where made. He picked up a piece of paper and pen and wrote four words ‘’you can do it’’ he placed it next some fresh bread he’d made earlier. He traced looked at albert asleep on the couch, kissing Alberts’s forehead his way of saying you’ll be all right.
Walking outside with pistol clutched tightly in his hand holding it to his temple with tear running down his face, he heard a shot come from behind. he couldn’t bear to look be for ending his pain once and for all.