The wall always fascinated me, how it had just suddenly appeared overnight, of course it wasn't a fully built wall like now, but barbed wires and guards. People say how there's a gap and a barrier between societies and between classes, but no barrier has ever been as literal and physically strong as the one that split up Germany. All barriers always had their exceptions and ways around, perhaps giving hope to the ones disadvantaged by it, but hope of this one breaking was non-existent because so many had tried to tear down this wall but it would not die and would just become stronger and stronger. There was hope for our nation despite this because this was our Antifaschistischer Schutzwall or "anti-fascist protection wall" which saved us from the fascists in West Germany and their allies. Or so we had been taught. Those two words had been drilled into our minds at school and with propaganda everywhere, but I wasn't so sure about it because looking around, it didn't seem that we were the benefitting country, and especially when contraband items from the west would enter the east, the quality was so high that everyone wanted it. Of course you'd have to keep it secret though because who knew what could happen if you were found with those products...

It couldn't be denied that many people loved it here and the community was definitely tightknit and looked out for each other, but despite this, the feeling that caught in my throat whenever I looked at the wall was not of hope but of fear.

The wind blowed gently against my face, my hair flowing lightly in the breeze as the sound of a voice vibrated against my eardrums, catching my attention away from the wall.

"Hey, keep moving. No lingering." The guard from the other day said in a stern manner, but a certain kindness idled on the edge of his voice. He held the gun stock in his right hand whilst his left hand held onto the leather strap which was slung over his shoulder and connected to the gun.

"I'm just looking, sir." I muttered quietly, both hoping he'd hear and not hear at the same time because this confrontation caused me to become wary as his attention but also it just felt like talking to another human being. Which it essentially was, but of course he had all the power to kill me where I stood and I had nothing.

"It's quite impressive isn't it." He said, glancing up to the wall by his side as if this were the first time he'd ever seen it.

"Yes sir." I replied, thinking that it would be best not to get into conversation just in case, but my comment seemed to create a chuckle to slip out of his mouth and his mask fall from his face to reveal a sheepish yet amused smile. I watched his face, expecting the mask to shoot straight back up when he met my eyes but it didn't. "What?" I asked.

"I'm really not a sir. You don't need to call me that." All the sternness from his earlier voice had gone and it was as if he were speaking to a friend.

"Well, for all I know, you could be some high up boss man!" My response yet again caused a chuckle but this one came more from the heart and was a full chuckle rather than a secret one he was trying to hide.

"Some high up boss man? You definitely know your terminology don't you." He shook his head before moving close enough to stretch his hand out. "I'm Friedrich Eisenberg. Some low down guard man."

I glanced down to his hand, considering if this was some prank or something stupid that I was doing, and then I saw a hand reach out to shake his back, then realising it was mine. His hand was soft to the touch, but larger than mine by far. "I'm Kirsten Stein. Some low down citizen." I smirked back to him as I raised my eyes to meet his.

"Seems we're perfect for each other – both low down." He winked towards me and then pulled his hand back to hold the leather strap again.

"Yeah haha..." I giggled a little, all words disappearing from my head and my throat closing up as if someone was choking me. I tried swallowing it down and opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out so I quickly shut it.

"Well, I'm sure you have places to be. I'll see you around Miss Stein." He smiled briefly before the mask shot back up and he began walking down the street along the wall.

I shook my head, making a mental note to slapmyself once I returned home for being so stupid and awkward. Turning theopposite direction from where Friedrich went, I began to walk home.