Hans had arrived home early to find the house in a flurry of controlled chaos. His dear wife was sobbing, restrained by a strong, low-ranking member of the Gestapo.
“Heil Hitler!” An officer exclaimed as he strolled in. “Herr Schneider, how good of you to finally join us.” His words were crisp, polished, and utterly apathetic. “Wolfgang, would you be so kind as to escort the criminals to their rightful place?”
“Certainly.” The man who had been holding Liesel dragged her roughly to a nearby car, tossing her into the back ungracefully. He returned and did the same for Hans.
Their trial was held almost immediately after their arrest, the judges and higher-ranking members of the Nazi party eager to put such terrible influences away for good, far away from the public’s eye. It all passed by in a blur, the only one thing standing out in Hans’s memory being their condemnation and punishment: a death sentence.
Neither one came as a shock to Hans, but that they would do this to his dear Liesel… it was unthinkable. Right after their capture, she had undergone a forced abortion, making her unable to bear children had they lived. And now, to have her die too?
The remorse overwhelmed him, guilt filling him up as he sat in his bare cell, awaiting his fate. How could he have been so stupid? What change had they made? Now, because of his naïve belief that he could make a difference, and his rash decision on that belief, his wife would die. His child was dead. His sweet, lovely, wise wife would be gone by tomorrow. She didn’t deserve this. Her only crime was her faithful devotion to him. Why, oh why, had he done this? What had possessed him?
“Hans Schneider.” The door to his cell swung open. Hans stood and followed the guard. He rubbed his hands, shaking from both cold and fear. He was led to a small room—but what was this? He rushed forward and lifted his wife, who drew in a sharp breath. She still hadn’t recovered physically from the death of their child. He set her down gently, peering into her eyes.
“How are you? Are you alright? I’m so sorry. How are you feeling? What can I do?” Questions bubbled up inside of him, as did anxiety.
She gazed up into his eyes, her large brown ones searching his. She rested a hand on his cheek. “My love, I’m fine. This isn’t that big. We may be leaving behind mothers, brothers, sisters, fathers, but we will be united with our Lord, together, with Him and our child. What could be better? God won’t let us die until He is finished with us here and wants us to be with Him.” Her eyes had pieces of grief, but were, for the most part, at peace. He hugged her, bringing his lips to meet hers, wishing he had the peace and contentment that seemed to so easily come to her. He wondered at the fact that she, so beautiful and perfected, had chosen him—him!—over everyone else, despite his flaws.
Another door swung open and a guard stepped through. The couple let go, knowing what was to come next.
“Frau Schneider!” The guard called, coming up and began to lead her away. Her hands were behind her back, being pulled away from him by the guards. His heart was being ripped out, piece by piece, with every inexplicably sure step she took towards the room in which everything would end.
As she gazed into his eyes, impossible peace and calm pervading, she said the last words he would ever hear her say. “Die Sonne scheint noche.”
The sun still shines.