The INvaders

They cowered together around their few meager possessions, she and her babies, praying for transport, praying for help, praying for Olek, praying, praying... There was nothing more to do. Tears pushed hard against the inside of her eyelids, stinging and forcing their way out, down her pale cheeks.

The war started with 'military exercises'. Only a fool believed they weren't amassing at the boundaries, preparing to invade her home, her whole world.

"It's time," her gruff husband announced one morning after breakfast. "Prepare the children for what's coming. Do it quickly; we must act now to save our family."

She busied herself with dishes and shooed the children into their rooms. "Olek… We're not sure yet. No one knows for sure…"

He lay a strong hand on her tiny, quivering shoulder and stopped her busy work. When she made eye contact,he leaned close, making his words heavy. "We are sure. We all know. Prepare the children and gather what we need. Only necessities. We won't have time or space for more."

"Olek," she started, looking up into his intense, black eyes. She paused, changing her gaze to the direction of the noisy play of their little ones and nodded. "I will do what I can," she promised, and he squeezed lightly, reassuringly.

But how does one prepare children who cannot yet tie their shoes for war?

That night, the bombings began. Their world shook to its core, battered and barraged, with an onslaught that left even those most prepared stunned and grieving.

And she and her family were not among the most prepared.

It took only two nights for their town to fall.

Olek kissed her as he grabbed a weapon intended for hunting vermin and, occasionally, small game. “Be safe,” he said softly. “Stay together. I will do my best to meet you at the transport station.”

"No!" she begged, but he shook her off his strong arm. She reached a trembling hand to touch his face. "You are not a soldier!"

"Yes, Annika. Today, I am. I will meet you at the transport station.

They both knew it was a lie but she put on her bravest face and attempted a smile. Failed.

"I will find you soon,” he promised as he stroked her cheek, lightly, lighe he had when they were young lovers. “Stay together. Wait for me as long as you can but do not endanger the children. They are all, Anika. They are all that matters. The children and you. Never forget that I love you. I will find you at the transport station. We will see each other there."

Then Olek disappeared into what felt like the blackest of nights, leaving her cowering in the doorway, straining to watch his retreating silhouette by the light of the fires that consumed everything around them. It was like watching him walk into Hell.

The children whined and cried and wailed as she snatched them up, grabbed the single bag she'd stuffed full, and run. Embers burned her face and arms and hair as they rained down upon her. She felt Nazarek squirm in her arms and heard his cry as a tiny piece of fiery coal hit his neck. Twice, she had to backtrack to avoid invading soldiers.

"Quiet," she whispered into the ears of her babies. "Be quiet for Momma."

And now they cowered together around their few meager possessions, she and her babies, praying for transport, praying for help, praying for Olek, praying, praying...

But help could not arrive in time. There were no transports left.

She looked at her tiny children and felt dispair well in her hearts.

The humans were coming.