The Lilac People

by Milo Todd

“Do you think history we’ll remember us as bad people? For doing what we’re doing?” Karl had long since evened his breathing. He kept his eyes to the keys. “I think we’ll be lucky if history remembers us at all.” “We could be reporting them, but we’re not. This whole time, the entire War, we never stood up and declared our resistance.” “Because that would’ve been suicide,” Sofie replied, though she herself looked uncomfortable with the conversation. They had talked lightly about it a few times in the past but always stopped before they could declare themselves bad people. “All we did was tuck ourselves away and fake our way through so we could survive. It feels selfish.” “Survival is inherently selfish,” Karl said. This did not comfort Bertie. “Inaction is a poison.” Karl continued to stare intently at the keys. His fingers continued to drum, but they were slower now. “Yes. And we’ll always tell ourselves whatever we need to justify our actions.” “And we’re allowing it to go to America now, the Nazis with us. We’re allowing it to happen.” “You talk as if America is a place of purity. Do you not believe there are Americans who agree with Hitler? They have just been quieter about it.” They all went silent after that. Bertie was not sure if this logic had bested his guilt or if he was just exhausted.