Short Romance Stories

War time love

             Heinrich hesitantly approached the small group of refugees huddled together in the cold night. He felt a twinge of guilt stirring in his stomach as he remembered the orders he had been given. As a German soldier, he was expected to treat these people with disdain, but as he looked into their tired and weary faces, he couldn't help but feel a sense of sympathy for them.

He noticed a young woman sitting slightly apart from the group, her head buried in her hands. Something about her caught his eye and he found himself drawn towards her. She looked up at his approach, fear and sadness evident in her eyes.

Heinrich cleared his throat, trying to speak in the little Hebrew he had learned. 'Shalom,' he said, offering a small smile.

The woman's expression changed from fear to confusion as she looked at him. 'You are speaking Hebrew?' she asked in disbelief.

Heinrich nodded, surprised at the relief he felt when she understood him. 'I learned a little while stationed in Berlin. My name is Heinrich,' he introduced himself.

The woman hesitantly introduced herself as Esther, a Jewish refugee who had fled from her home in Germany. As they spoke, Heinrich couldn't help but admire her resilience and bravery in the face of such adversity. He found himself opening up to her, sharing his doubts and struggles as a soldier.

As the hours passed, they found themselves lost in conversation, oblivious to the war raging around them. It was only when the sun began to rise that they both realized the gravity of their situation.

'I should go,' Heinrich said with reluctance, standing up from the ground they had been sharing.

'I understand,' Esther said, her eyes downcast. 'Thank you for speaking with me, Heinrich. It means more to me than you know.'

Heinrich felt a pang of guilt as he watched her walk away, knowing that he was supposed to be on the other side. But as he turned to leave, he couldn't deny the feeling that had been growing inside him since the moment he saw her – he had fallen in love with Esther.

Days turned into weeks, and Heinrich found himself constantly seeking out Esther whenever he could. They would meet in secret, sharing stories and dreams for a future beyond the war.

But as the war raged on, Heinrich's duties as a soldier pulled him away from his time with Esther. The guilt of their forbidden love weighed heavily on his conscience, but he couldn't bring himself to stay away from her.

One day, as they sat together in a hidden spot, Heinrich made a decision. He had to protect Esther, no matter the cost. 'Esther, I have to tell you something,' he said, taking her hand in his. 'I love you.'

Tears welled up in Esther's eyes as she looked at him, the man from the enemy side who had shown her nothing but kindness and love. 'I love you too, Heinrich,' she said, her voice breaking with emotion.

Their embrace was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. Heinrich quickly stood up, alert and on guard.

'Soldiers,' Esther whispered, fear evident in her voice.

Heinrich's heart sank as he recognized the insignia on their uniforms – it was his own unit. 'Esther, run,' he urged her, knowing the consequences of being caught with a Jewish refugee.

But Esther stood her ground. 'I won't leave you,' she said firmly, tears streaming down her face.

Heinrich was torn between his duty as a soldier and his love for Esther. In that moment, he made a choice – he would protect her, even if it meant sacrificing his own life.

The soldiers approached, ordering him to move away from Esther. But Heinrich stood his ground, facing them with determination. 'I won't abandon her, she is my love,' he declared, holding Esther's hand tightly.

In that moment, the soldiers saw the love and courage in Heinrich's eyes. They lowered their weapons and allowed them to stay together.

For Heinrich and Esther, their love had transcended the boundaries of war and prejudice. They continued to meet in secret, their love growing stronger with each passing day. And when the war finally ended, they were able to leave behind the hatred and start a new life together, in a world where their love was not only accepted, but celebrated.