So this morning I was thinking about my character Danielle. She appeared in my head extremely upset. I sometimes wake from sleep hearing my characters. Here is an excerpt from "Leaving Behind Our Walls".
Danielle didn't wake up cranky. She had been the happiest kid all day. She couldn't believe her dad had invited Tobias to dinner. As a daughter of the man everyone knew as the head of the Stasi it was hard to have any loyal friends. People claimed to be her friend because they thought it would be safer. If they were her friend they figured she would not say anything bad about them and report it to her father. That was only one thing that made her cranky. Did they not realize that she was her own person and that her father would turn on her just as quick as they did her? That was a constant cranky subject in her life.
No, today topped the cake. She thought Tobias was coming over to let her dad know his plans for the future because he loved her and when they got out of school that year he wanted to officially get engaged. Boy had she been wrong. She was just a stepping stone in his plans to go to work for the big and mighty Stasi. Her father saw her attitude change and assumed she was upset because he and Tobias were ignoring her. He excused himself and suggested they have coffee on the porch.
"I can't believe you just did that Tobias." Danielle snapped. Tobias looked at her confused.
"I thought you wanted me to be friends with your dad. Besides, if he really likes me he might put in a good word for me where he works."
Danielle looked at him. He was like all the others. "You know if you go to work there you will report everything you hear about your friends right?"
Tobias took a drink of his coffee and shrugged. "Yeah so what's the big deal? We're expected to do that now."
Danielle turned from him and looked out toward the river. She didn't want him to see the tear sliding down her face. How could she have thought he was any different? Did he truly believe that ruining people's lives was the way it should be? She world around and slammed her cup down. "I'm going to bed. See yourself out!" With that she entered the house, carrying a dark cloud with her, slamming the door behind her. How could such a beautiful day, and the boy she loved make her the crankiest person on earth?
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