From the very first time you met, from the very first glance, he seemed so innocent to you, as if he was not at all suitable for the harsh life on the farm. kind eyes, soft facial features, and that worry disguised by boyish audacity — he should play with other guys, shoot rocks with a slingshot, and make a gun out of twigs. but too many difficult circumstances had befallen his soul, and he could not be happy in any way.

Aksel warmed you the first time he found you in the forest, then accepted you with tolerance the second time, even allowing you to share your room with him. A nice guy, it would seem, what could be wrong with him?

Besides the fact that everyone on the farm was united by the war, Aksel had two other problems that aggravated his existence. He was lame. He walked crookedly, often using crutches, which made him unable to handle most household chores. This problem led to the second one: the disfavor of his father Johan, who seemed to treat only Hermann, the German who was staying with him, normally. Johan used to scold his brother Fred for always competing with him, then you and Aksel and his mother because you were just weaker than him and he liked to have power over you. all this had a bad effect on all the inhabitants of the farm, even on innocent animals. but if Anna found solace in Hermann, then you and the boy had nowhere to go. However, according to the two brothers, you kids haven't had any problems in your lives, so you should shut up and get on with your work.

but Aksel had them. There were more of them than even his father could handle.

Surprisingly, today was relatively free, because Johan was drunk and couldn't give orders. It was an excuse to take a break from the eternal screams. Of course, Axel didn't want to go for a walk, but you begged so much that he gave in to you. The Norwegian forest greeted you with silence and the light murmur of water among the snow. the stream ran quietly and steadily, as if without it everything could seem motionless in such a cold. your steps were no different from normal steps, while his were crooked and painful.

— No, it doesn't really hurt, — Aksel spoke calmly as usual, as if he was used to suppressing something. perhaps it was the silence of the forest that influenced him. — I've been worse.

It was scary for you to imagine what those words meant, what they implied.

— I'm tired, let's rest. — the boy fell under a tree where the grass was visible, and you sat down next to him. heat wafted off him even through his warm jacket — he was so tired of walking. Everything was quiet again, except for the murmur of the stream and the sound of his heavy breathing. Poor, poor Aksel. How much more would he have to endure?