Here is my late entry into the weekly challenge brought to us by the lovely Rochelle Wisoff-Fields.
Here are the rules: Use the photo as inspiration, write a hundred(ish) words – and share! Here goes my offering for this week – and I welcome your comments again!
Copyright – Rochelle!
Freya Writes... 
Wow, cool story, eerie even. Like a ghost story, where the ghosts are still haunting.
Thank you, Brenda. A few years ago a spent a few weeks in mainland Europe, including Berlin. I saw a building that my guide explained used to be the HQ of the railway network. It was boarded up, and you could see the original wallpaper on the walls, peeling and desiccating. It was very, very eerie.
You managed to convey that powerfully. Well done. I felt a bit chilled by it.
Excellent story Freya, history present us with so many stories to draw on. I like that contrast of the magnificence of the building and the workers being grey and dispensable.
Thank you, Michael. Life is full of such contrasts, isn’t it? I wanted to show them fighting back, in some small way.
I think you did wonderfully well.
It worked!
Your last line is powerful and poignant, Freya. A distressing story beautifully told.
Thank you, Karen.
Well written, a powerful, haunting story.
Thank you, Sarah.
You are probably so close to the truth. It’s like making the condemned dig their own graves. Well written and a topic we musyn’t forget.
Thank you, Patrick. I’ve read enough about this period of history to know that this kind of thing did happen – war does awful things to humanity…
Grim reminder not to forget the lessons of history. Very well-portrayed, Freya.
Thank you so much. I didn’t want to be heavy-handed with the ‘warning from history’ angle. Something do horrific doesn’t need to be dramatised, I don’t think.
What a cruel reminder of a past that never should be forgotten.. the grill-pattern is certainly quite special..
Indeed it is.
Creepy tale “the workers were grey, miserable, expendable. Well written! Nan 🙂
Thank you, Nan.
I wondered if anyone would notice the pattern…. you used it well in your description.
Thank you. Hidden in plain sight…
Awesome tale, Freya. Loved that they added their own touch even under the bleak circumstances.
Thank you, Adam.
you didn’t miss the stars of david pattern. many looked but didn’t see.
Thank you – the devil is the detail, isn’t it…
i like how you mention the pattern your characters left behind as a personal way of leaving something for the world to witness…a very horrible moment in history unfortunately. powerful story.
Thank you, Sun. Unfortunately we don’t seem to have learned a great deal…
Nice one!
Thank you!
Nice one!
Thank you, Dawn.
Dear Freya,
This just might be my favorite of your stories thus far. Nicely done. Brava!
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you, Rochelle. What a compliment!
Great story. It reminded me of a true story of defiance from Nazi Germany by the Jewish inmates of Terezin concentration camp
http://www.pbs.org/program/defiant-requiem-voices-resistance/
Yes, there were many such stories indeed. Thank you for the reminder of this one.
Nicely done, Freya. You highlighted the small acts of defiance that can keep the heart in the oppressed and outlast their oppressors! I really like this.
janet
Thank you very much, Janet.
Nice interpretation and a good spot with the pattern – it hadn’t struck me until I got to your last line.
Thank you.
So good. This is such a horrific story told so well. I can feel the ghosts of those architects and workers emerging from your tale.
Thank you, Sarah Ann.
I’ve looked at this photo a hundred times and only just saw the star-pattern after reading your story. Thanks for helping me see deeper into the photo 🙂
You’re welcome!
A lovely story that shows the strength of the human spirit. Beautifully written.
Thank you.