17 March 2037
4.10 pm
It seemed like any ordinary day when Samuel returned to his mother’s house after his shift as a police officer.
Samuel placed his hand on the door handle and opened it. No sooner had he set foot inside than his eyes widened at the sight of three suitcases lined up on the doorstep. Samuel froze in his tracks, a thousand questions and thoughts swirling through his head,
‘Whose suitcases are these?’
Before his train of thought could be interrupted, his mother’s voice rang out from the top of the stairs.
“They’re for you,”
she said in a completely cold tone, coming down the stairs without bothering to offer any explanation or apology.
Samuel’s eyes widened and his face went pale, and he replied in a tone that wavered between bewilderment and utter denial.
“Pardon? I don’t want to travel at all! Is this because of your husband, Frederick?”
She replied in the same cold tone, without moving from where she stood.
“Yes. Frederick doesn’t want you, and I don’t want to lose him. He doesn’t like having a test-tube baby like you living under the same roof as him.”
Samuel clenched his jaw so hard his teeth nearly cracked; he furrowed his brow as he strode towards her and said sharply.
“Do you now put your husband before your son? For God’s sake, you’ve been like this ever since Mia died! Were you really just a stopgap in your relationship with her?”
She narrowed her blue eyes and looked at him with a blank stare devoid of any maternal warmth, replying in a sharp, cold voice.
“Don’t remind me of her… It’s an old chapter I want to close.”
“An old chapter?!”
Samuel shouted, his blood boiling in his veins, and continued in a sharp, loud voice, “You’re lying to yourself! You’re trying to escape her memory through this new system that imposes traditional marriage, just to bury your mistakes!”
Before he could finish, her hand shot out and landed on his face with a resounding slap, the echo reverberating throughout the house.
Samuel’s face jerked to one side as he felt a stinging heat on his cheek, whilst his mother approached and said harshly.
“Shut up! You have no right to judge… You’re twenty-three years old now! You’re not a child any more, Samuel! You don’t need to stay in my house. Get out and be a man.”
She grabbed his hand, dragged him outside, threw his bags after him, and slammed the door shut.
Samuel felt his blood boiling like a volcano, but he realised there was nothing he could do. He picked up his bags and headed to a colleague’s house to spend the night.
19 March 2037
Samuel finally found a modest flat that suited him. He would accept living anywhere rather than return to his mother Ashley’s house; he didn’t have a good relationship with her or with her wife, Mia.
“I’ll forget about them. They’re the reason for everything that’s happened to me.”
Samuel said this, sighed heavily, and sat down on the sofa to rub his head.
“You want me to be a man? I’ll be one, and she’ll remain nothing but a despicable woman!”
4 May 2037
Silence reigned at the ‘7th District Police Station’; the staff were on their break and the atmosphere was perfectly normal.
Until the silence was broken by the sound of firm, sharp footsteps—the footsteps of polished black Oxford shoes.
‘Mr President!’
cried the receptionist, then apologised.
“I’m sorry, Chief, how can I help you?”
He looked at her calmly, his expression unreadable, and said in a steady, impeccable voice:
“Is Samuel Müller here?”
She nodded and said:
“Certainly, Chief, he’s in the staff room.”
Dieter Brandt strode purposefully towards the staff break room, simply opened the door, and entered without announcing his presence; he had no need to do so.
One of the police officers cried out in astonishment, drawing everyone’s attention.
“The President is here!”
Everyone stood up, each standing to attention out of respect for Dieter Brandt, and a single question occupied their minds: ‘Why is the Chief here all of a sudden?’
Dieter’s words were preceded by a solemn clearing of his throat, then he said calmly,
‘Which one of you is Samuel Müller?’
They all pointed towards Samuel, who in turn stepped forward to stand before Dieter Brandt. Samuel knew full well who he was standing before: the leader, the hope of the Germans, the father of the nation, the Iron Man – all titles bestowed upon him by the people after Dieter assumed the office of President of the Republic. They were by no means an exaggeration. Dieter is a great man in every sense of the word! Dieter said in a voice as cold as the frost outside the centre;
“Come with me.”
Samuel hurried after Dieter, feeling his stomach clench with intense pressure; he was sweating profusely and his hands were trembling violently. He got into the back seat of the luxurious black car with Dieter. As he closed the door, Dieter said to the private chauffeur;
“David, step out for a moment, please.”
The driver stepped out and closed the door behind him. A terrifying silence fell over the car. Samuel was fidgeting with his fingers, whilst his leg was shaking violently. Dieter placed his hand on Samuel’s shoulder, causing his body to shudder violently. He looked up at Dieter’s face and saw a tender smile he never imagined he’d see now, given what was happening.
“What’s the matter, Müller? Or shall I call you by your first name? Would that be better?”
Samuel took a deep breath, then replied,
“Anything, sir… Anyway, why did you ask to see me?”
Dieter smiled, picked up his luxurious leather briefcase, and took out a disciplinary report.
“ One of your colleagues has reported unethical behaviour… I won’t mention his name, simply to protect him, but tell me honestly, Samuel: are you sexually attracted to men?”
Samuel’s eyes widened at his words; he looked down, thinking of an excuse to give, knowing full well that the law would not forgive him for what he had done.
“Sir, surely there must be some mistake.”
Dieter laughed, a laugh devoid of any humour.
“Just as I thought, you’re going to lie in a blatant and ridiculous way. Listen, I know you’re the son of two women from before the war… so it’s only to be expected that you’d follow in their footsteps.”
Samuel replied indignantly.
“That’s not true! I’m not like them!… What I did to some of my colleagues was wrong, I know, but sir, please forgive me. I won’t do it again, I swear!”
“So you admit that you love men?”
“Yes, I do… but I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”
Dieter cupped Samuel’s face in both hands and drew closer to him, until his warm breath touched his skin. Samuel felt as though he were in a dream; he closed his eyes, his heart pounding wildly as he waited for the moment, but the cold man did not grant it to him… Dieter suddenly pulled back, leaning his elbow against the door with a dry laugh, leaving Samuel reeling in his disappointment.
“Right, I’ve now confirmed your inclinations.”
He followed this with a dry laugh. Samuel felt a strange mixture of anger, shame, joy and tension; he didn’t know how to describe his feelings. He tried to speak, but Dieter cut him off.
“The law doesn’t concern itself with what happens behind closed doors on private property, Samuel… and what you were going to do in public would have landed you in prison.”
Samuel looked at Dieter, trying to make sense of what he’d said. Was he supporting him? Or mocking him?
“Why are you looking at me like that? I’m the boss and I know everything.”
Samuel sighed with relief, then said,
“Why didn’t you punish me? I’ve been arresting gay men myself for months – what’s changed?”
Dieter replied dryly.
“Nothing has changed. The law applies to everyone, and I see that you’re someone special.”
Dieter moved closer to him and placed his hand on Samuel’s cheek, continuing in a charming, seductive voice.
“If you’re determined to have sex with a man, I’ll help you.”
Samuel was shocked by Dieter’s words and actions. How could a bureaucratic chief like him suggest such a thing to an ordinary policeman like him?
“Sir… you’re joking, aren’t you?”
He leaned in and whispered in his ear in a warm voice.
“I’m completely serious. The law won’t hold us accountable as long as it takes place on one of my properties.”
“But sir… you’re married!”
He grabbed him firmly by the jaw and said sharply.
“Don’t mention my wife, do you understand?”
Samuel nodded, then began to mull over Dieter’s words, until he took a deep breath and said;
“I agree.”
Dieter clapped his hands loudly and ruffled Samuel’s hair.
“Good lad.”
Then he rolled down the car window and called for the driver to return.
“It’s your first time, isn’t it? I hope you’re free of any diseases.”
“Yes, it’s my first time.”
To be continued…...
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