Foreign exchange student, Lilah, takes a journey through Germany while staying with a host family. And on one eventful night, she meets a certain German guitarist.
Enjoy~
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(ChapterOne)
Snowflakes danced their way down from the monotone sky, blanketing the scenery, mounding against the window seal and the far-spread streetlamps. Pass the fogged windowpane, Lilah watched on with a sad gaze.
In the background, Lilah's host family, the Eisenmann's, laced up their boots and put on their thick coats, ready to head out the door. Tucking away her journal in her bag, Lilah swathed around her neck a yellow scarf and zipped up her cozy jacket. For a month, Lilah had been staying with the Eisenmann's, living in Brandenburg's state capital, Potsdam. On the weekends, they visited tourist attractions and historical places. Though it grew to be a bit exhausting for Lilah, she enjoyed the most of it, loving the knowledge and ancestry behind it all. Today was no different.
"We're going to Berlin, did you pack your gloves?" Rudi, the eldest son, asked.
'Of course, I'll put them on when we get there.'
The youngest child was too busy distracting Lilah, and Lilah was too confident to bother with checking. Since Lilah's arrival, she and the siblings grew quite close. Rudi was a year younger than herself, and his sister, Gisela, had turned seven last week. They were sweet and well-mannered. Overall the family couldn't have been better for Lilah, making her feel at home despite being so far away from it.
The car ride was short, Potsdam being nearly right outside Berlin's door. Lilah was ecstatic.
Scribbling in her journal as they walked down the street, Lilah happily hummed to herself. They visited many stores along the way and explored a slice of Berlin's history on the way back. Snow began to dance its way to the ground again as time struck 6 pm, and the majority of shops and stores had long since been closed.
Lilah was too busy writing the events of her day down, and it wasn't 'til she bumped into someone, did she realize where she was.
Lilah looked around, her host family nowhere in sight. The night grew colder, every chill and gust nipping at her exposed hands and face. Down the streets and alleys, Lilah searched high and low for the Eisenmann's.
'Mama! Vati!'
She called and called until her voice grew hoarse from the dry winter air. Thinking she may have gotten farther away from them, Lilah retraced her steps. Tears pooled Lilah's eyes, but she pushed through the coldness.
Ahead of her, a man waited for a chance to cross the street. Lilah lost her footing, slipping on the iced sidewalk.
₁'Pass auf!'
The man barely had the time to look, but strong arms subconsciously clutched onto Lilah as they both collided to the freezing concrete.
His voice was mild yet concerned,₂"Alles okay?"
Lilah apologized, taking his outstretched hand. She could barely feel it was there, the tingling sensation of numbness growing more and more uncomfortable. Wiping her eyes, Lilah told him everything.
"Do you live here in Berlin?" He picked up the yellow scarf, handing it over.
'No, we-- we live in Potsdam.'
The man pressed further, "Do you know their phone number?"
₃'Natürlich!'
He guided her down the street, finally able to cross as he intended.
