Free Sample
Preview from chapter one
The year is 1942, and Adriana, a 35-year-old curvy woman, is living in a small village that has become a battleground in the middle of World War II. As the enemy soldiers draw closer, she can feel the tremors of their approach through the very earth beneath her feet. Her heart races, her breath shallow. The once familiar sounds of village life have been replaced by the cacophony of war: the distant rumble of tanks, the sharp crack of rifles, and the ominous drone of aircraft. She has heard the rumors of their brutality and knows she must hide. Spotting a nearby barn, she decides it might offer some shelter. The barn door is heavy, but she throws her weight against it, the wood groaning in protest before finally giving way. She slips inside, the musty scent of hay and the comforting warmth of the animals enveloping her as the chaos of the world outside fades a little.
Adriana's chest tightens with each boom and rumble that echoes through the countryside. The barn feels less like a sanctuary and more like a prison with every passing moment. She can't help but think of her family, her neighbors, and the life they once knew. Her eyes dart around the barn, searching for any sign of movement or danger. The animals are restless, their eyes reflecting the fear that grips the village. She clutches her shawl closer, feeling the comforting embrace of its woolen warmth, and whispers a silent prayer that the soldiers will pass her by.
The distant screams and the pounding of boots on the ground outside the barn send a jolt of terror through Adriana's body. She presses her back against the rough wooden wall, willing herself to become one with it. The panic in her chest feels like it might consume her, but she forces herself to stay silent and still, her eyes wide and unblinking in the dim light filtering through the cracks. The sounds grow louder, more desperate, until they are right outside the barn door. Her breath hitches in her throat, and she can almost feel the vibrations of the soldiers' footsteps as they pause.
The barn door creaks open, and a shaft of light pierces the gloom. The silhouettes of enemy soldiers, their weapons held at the ready, fill the doorway. Adriana's heart thunders in her chest, and she bites her lip to keep from crying out. They fan out, their boots crunching through the straw as they search the barn. One approaches the pile of hay where she's hidden, and she can smell the acrid scent of their cigarette smoke. He pauses, peering into the shadows.