It’s Lukas!

“Lukas?”

“Graeber!”

Lukas was holding a mess tin filled with what looked like some kind of red soup. He was clean-shaven but weighed down with equipment. “Oh, my God! I thought you were dead!”

He marched forward for a hug but stopped a few feet away. “All that blood?”

Graeber shrugged. “I’ve had a rough day.”

Lukas shifts his weight before he offers his hand. When the men’s hands clasp, they both draw close for a hug. The unfortunate circumstances are melted between their bodies. For a brief moment, all that is remembered is the brotherhood between soldiers.

Pulled away, Graeber looks at Lukas, discovering a smudged corporeal uniform. “When were you promoted?”

“Unternehmen Wintergewitter,” Lukas says solemnly, and both men become awkward.

Graeber swallowed, his mouth had gone dry, and his brain went on to remember the war. The war engulfed many dreams by now and took irreplaceable lives. He took stock of the room and spied on the soldiers passing by. “How is everything here?”

“Better than yesterday, worse than other days,” Lukas takes his tin and drinks the broth. Regards his friend with his blue eyes. He hissed and brushed back his hair. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

“Let’s get you familiar with the area,” Lukas goes to turn, but Graeber stops him. He reads his expression and sniffs. “Are you not a replacement?”

“No,” he replies. “I drove a truck here to transfer some wounded. I don’t know where I belong.”

Lukas looks at the NCOs in the adjacent room. “Join our unit. We need experienced men anyway, so I’m sure they’ll let you in.”

“Think so?”

“Alles klar.”