TEASER

1941

Summer was finally approaching and Cooper Sanjokvia relished in the warm breeze. Standing outside of her families' New York townhouse, she left the door ajar.

Her German Shepard bounded down the stairs and Cooper grinned, angling her face towards the blistering sun. Her white blonde hair was twisted into a simple braid down her shoulders, brushing the bottom of her breast. Pale, pink lips were upturned into a smile. Everything about the girl was lacking of color, cold, the features almost uncommon. She opened her eyes, revealing two washed out, light blue eyes. Framed by dark lashes, it made the irises seem white in comparison. The clothes she wore on her small, petite body were bright and caused her skin to almost glow. With her ghostly appearance, she almost seem angelic in a world full of chaos.

She was then joined by a tall man, towering over her short statue. He slung a muscular arm around the younger woman's shoulders and sent her an easy smile as hello. Cooper sent a sharp whistle through her teeth, letting her dog, Roma, know that she was straying too far. She peered up at the man then. With darker blonde hair, lightly tanned skin and green eyes, the only thing the two had in common were their crooked grins.

The man wore a United States Army Uniform, the sleeves pushed back to battle the warmth. Arrogance filled the small space in between the two and she quickly knocked his arm off of her. She rubbed the spot he had laid his arm and narrowed her eyes at him.

"No touch, Christopher." She murmured, waggling her thin eyebrows at him. She didn't mind the man's presence, even sometimes seeking it out, but Cooper loathed being touched.

Her brother, used to her mood, sat down on the uneven brick stairs and invited her to join him. Cooper looked out to see Roma lying at the bottom, bathing in the sun and nodded, relenting and joining him on the stairs./p

A short, comfortable silence passed between them until the male spoke. "I got the call. I leave in the morning." He admitted, receiving a worried look from his sister.

"So soon? You just got back! I thought we'd have at least another couple of weeks." She tried to not let her voice waver, frowning in disappointment.

Despite the bickering the two have had since they were children, her brother was her best friend and the only family she had left. The thought of him deploying back into the gruesome war had her skin crawling.

"I did too." He responded, noticing his sister's dejection. He hadn't wanted to ruin her day with the news, but he knew she would throw an even bigger fit if he had waited to tell her. "The Nazis are pushing into the camps and they need me to come back. Trust me, if I could, I would stay."

Cooper was well aware that she was being unfair, but couldn't help but to pout at the news. Her tiny, long fingers intertwined together and she brought her knees to her chest.

"I'll miss you. Like always."

Christopher gave his sister a small smile, understanding her sadness. He placed a hand on her bouncing knee, staring out into the busy street. Roma let out a chirp, perhaps she could feel their depression. She nudged his sister's leg. /

"Before you know it, I'll be back here, annoying you and scaring off any men that try to make my little sister their girl."

Cooper scoffed, corners of her lips turning up. "Please, you're not scary."

Her brother embraced her into a tight hug, startling her. She slowly returned the gesture, feeling the weight settle at the bottom of her stomach. "I love you, Chris. You'll be safe, right?"

He pulled back. "Always, Coop. Love ya too."

Not edited.

5/31/16

Coming Soon