It's time a shared one of my recent stories. This one is rooted in family history - specifically the part of family history that was not talked about. Set in the Asmena region (historically Baltic, became somewhat of a disputed territory) "No Cherries In This Orchard" is a tale of survival and moral ambivalence under unthinkable circumstances.
1941, Nazi occupied Lithuania. Twenty-year old Emilia, a struggling farmer, resentfully collaborates with the new regime - it's the only way to keep her village from being burned down. When Hester, a Jewish teenager turns to her for protection, Emilia must employ her theatrical talent to distract the German officer who has taken over her house. The girls despise each other, but a shared enemy forces them to form a pact.
