Silence

Aunt Lucy was about forty, her only son was drafted to the front lines like many others, and was killed in action. Her husband soon left her seeing as she wasn't healthy enough anymore to have children. Depression fell upon her and isolated herself from the world but soon the towns people uplifted her spirit and she became the towns librarian even though most of the villagers couldn't read.

Her house was small and simple, two bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining room and a living room. The walls were painted in a rough textured baby blue and flowers in pots sat upon every window of the house. She loved gardening but in fear of the flowers running out of water too quickly, she placed them all inside after digging them up and replanting them in pots.

"Ah... Carmen" She was sitting on her brown leather couch, knitting as she saw us come in through her front door. Her voice was weak and scratchy. The years of smoking caught up to her. "Mrs. Matiel, I would like to ask if Carmen may stay here for a while." Carmen's father asked.

"Sure, sure...", she paused to think for a brief moment, " I made some... walnut bread... why don't you... both eat some?" She offered with a warm smile which looked more like she was smiling to herself, proud she finally made something that wasn't rice.

"I am in a hurry, but I will gladly try some when I return for Carmen. Thank you Mrs. Matiel, have a lovely day." the lord bowed and then left the small cottage.

"Aunt Lucy, I'll try your walnut bread, the smell is to die for!" Carmen said with a silly smile as he rushed into her kitchen. Her warm chuckle followed him into the kitchen. On top of the small counter. lied a big loaf of walnut bread neatly sliced.

Carmen gently picked up a slice in the middle and devoured it like there was no tomorrow. But for him, that could be true...

"Aunt Lucy, do you want me to bring you a slice?" Carmen's soft voice resounded the quiet cottage. "Yes... darling... thank you..." Her croaky voice was mixed in with her happy tone.

As the two sat on her sofa, enjoying walnut bread together, a siren went off, alarming the town of the Crown Princes early arrival. "Aunt Lucy..." Carmen said as she gripped Carmen's arm as tightly as she could. Mrs. Lucy wasn't dumb, she knew what was happening without anyone informing her. She always did, when the kids in town were bad or lying, aunt Lucy always knew.

"Aunt Lucy, don't worry. I'll protect you." Carmen smiled warmly as he squeezed her hand gently, reassuring her. "Go... hide in... the pantry..." She said, looking more calm then before. "Okay... call me if your in trouble, okay Aunt Lucy?" Carmen only left once he saw her nod her head gently, and continued her knitting.

Carmen sat in the pantry, behind a large bag of rice, waiting for it all to be over. No light made its way through to the pantry to preserve the food for as long as possible.

Carmen waited, and waited, and waited. But nothing. No sound. Not even a squeak from a mouse. A thousand of thoughts raced his mind. Is father okay? Is Aunt Lucy okay? Are the towns people okay? Why isn't there any noises?

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