Where Innocence Lies

I look longingly into Irina’s blue eyes on this tranquil night. I am about to ask her, “Irina… will… will you…”



She looks at me with curiosity, “Will I what Franz?”



Suddenly a deafening boom sounds throughout the city. Then the city’s air raid sirens scream to life with its ear splitting shrieking. The wispy fingers of the searchlights probe the cloudy night sky.



Irina and I look at each other in alarm. We silently agree, we need to find out what is happening.



Germany, Toter Garten, 1944.

The flames of the Second World War have engulfed Europe, no longer sparing the German people. In a quiet town far away from the chaos of battle is a young German teen, Franz Henkel, who desperately tries to find his way into adulthood in a world gone mad for violence.