Elias stumbled into his house, the smell of liquor coming from every breath he took. “Welcome home dear,” his wife said, taking his jacket and neatly putting it away. “dinner is almost ready.” Elias slowly walked into the small kitchen that was painted a light shade of green, every step making the floor let out a little squeal. He sat at the wooden table which was covered with a white tablecloth and had a vase of flowers on it. “Carnations?” Elia said. “Oh yes, aren't they beautiful?” his wife said setting a plate down in front of him. “No, throw them out.” he said looking at them with despondency. “But dear.” his wife said smiling. “Now, Petra.” Elias said in a harsh tone which made Petra jump a little bit. “Of course dear.” she said grabbing the flower vase and walking out of the room. “Carnations?” Seraphina said, taking the flowers from her mother while eyeing her. “What? This place is a dump. You will need something to brighten it up.” her mother said looking around with a distasteful look on her face. “It isn't a dump, it is just old, you know it's been around since-.” “since world war two, I know you have told me more times than I can count.” her mother said, sighing. Seraphina led her mom to the small kitchen. “When are you going to re-paint? This green is hideous.” Her mother said sitting at the table. “I will get to it. I just want to keep it how it is for a while.” Seraphina said, putting the flowers into a vase. “Why? It's not like it has old charms like the ones they feature in the vintage home magazines.” “whatever, what do you want to eat?” Seraphina said looking in her cabinets. “I and your father will be going out tonight so nothing for me.” her mother said, checking her hair in a hand mirror. “Alright.” Seraphina said, then took a bite of an apple. “Welcome home dad” Elias turned to see his son standing in the doorway to the kitchen eating a plum. “Why are you eating before dinner? We have rules for a reason Leon.” Elias said, turning back to his plate. “Sorry I just didn't know what time you would be home tonight.” Leon said, trying to win over his father's sympathy. Elias glanced at the gray clock which sat on the counter that read 10:43 pm. “It is fine.” Elias sighed. “Just finish that and go to sleep. You have school tomorrow don't you?” “yeah but I don't wanna go.” Leon said looking disgusted. “Why not? I thought you were doing good.” Elias said with a concerned look. “It turned out a Jew was lying about his heritage and was going to my school, I don't want to be any place a disgusting Jew was.” Leon said, throwing his Plum in the trash. “Even just thinking about it makes me lose my appetite.” Leon said then walked out of the kitchen. “Fuck!” Elias said banging his fist on the table. “Dear, what's wrong?” Petra said, running into the kitchen. “It's nothing...my head just hurts.” Elias said sitting back down. “Don't lie to me, what is it?” she said and waited for a response but Leon remained silent. “Oh! Is it because you heard that filthy Jew snuck into Leon's school?” She said with a distasteful look on her face. “It's none of your goddamn business!” Elias yelled as he got up from the table. “Honey there is no need to be upset about it now they already took care of it.” Petra said, trying to soothe Elias, he ignored her and walked into his study. “So this is the room you were most excited about?” Seraphina's mother asked her as they walked into a room with the same lime green paint as the kitchen but only on one wall, the other walls had flower wallpaper on them that was now torn and coming off the wall. “Yeah! Isn't it so cool from my research that this is where they found a journal of one of the military efficient.” Seraphina said walking around the room. “I don't see why you are so obsessed with this world war two crap, it was a tragic time. Why would you want to live in a house that was once inhabited by one of those foul soldiers?” Seraphina's mother asked her daughter. “It's not like I went searching for a soldier's house specifically mom. I just wanted a house from that period.” Seraphina answered this question many times to her mother but yet again she has to explain herself. “Just think of what this house has been through and seen all the history it has!” Seraphina said, smiling at her mother. “Now will you please stop asking me why I got this house? It's getting pretty old, can't you just ask about the history of it and pretend you're happy for me? Even just for a little bit.” Saraphina asked, clearly annoyed. “Fine,” the mother sighed. “who lived here?” her mother asked not interested but would hate to leave with her daughter mad at her. “Well three people lived here last actually, in world war two a soldier named Elias, his wife Perta, and his son Leon all lived here.” Seraphina said, leading her mother out of the room. Elias shut the door to the study and locked it. He walked over to his desk where his journal was sitting and opened it and began to write. “I don't think I can take it much longer, the guilt eats at me every day, the darkness has covered all of me like a shadow. It haunts me that I have taught my own son that someone must die because of where they come from, but what can I do? If I were to tell anyone this I would surely be put to death, but I am beginning to think death would be better than the guilt and disgust I feel every time I look in the mirror. I remember exactly one month ago I pulled apart a family, one with a little girl. I remember her in their home Carnations were sitting on the table. I can't stand the sight of them now. I know I am being unfair feeling this way when I am not even on the worse end of it” Elias put the pen down and walked out of his study, he walked into the bathroom and splashed his face with water, droplets falling to the ground where white tiles sat. “So he didn't want to be a part of any of it?” Seraphina's mother asked. “Exactly, in fact, he was so eaten up he stopped being a part of the military that night, follow me let me show you the upstairs.” Seraphina said walking up the stairs and into a room that had blue chipping paint, brown carpets, and a giant open closet. “I didn't think they could quit.” Seraphina's mother said. “Well normally they can but he did something that got him out of it.” Seraphina said walking towards the closet. “Are you tired honey?” Petra asked, grabbing her nightgown out of the closet. “Yeah, I am just going to tell Leon goodnight. ” Elias said, smiling sweetly at his wife. “Okay.” Petra kissed her husband and laid down. Elias walked down the hall sliding his hand down the lime-painted wall glancing at the pictures on the wall. He walked into his son's room who was already asleep, Elias sat on the bed beside Leon. “I am sorry, I know this isn't your fault.” Elias said placing his hand on his son's forehead. “This is the room his son stayed in, his name was Leon.” Seraphina said guiding her mother into a room with light blue walls that look like the walls would fall any day now and a bare floor with splinters pointing up out of it. “This looks really unsafe.” Her mother said, examining the room. “I actually agree with you, I try to stay out of this room but I will be remodeling this room for obvious reasons.” Seraphina said with a gloomy look. “It really sucks that I have to change it.” She said touching the wall. “Anyway back to what happened.” “What are you doing?” Leon said waking up. “It's nothing son, just go back to sleep.” Elias said, patting his head. “Are you sure-?” Leon began before Elias put his hand over his son's mouth. “MPHMHH” Leon tried to get his father's hand off his mouth. “I am sorry son.” Elias said, pulling out his pocket knife. “I am going to save you from this life so just sleep.” He said smiling. “That's terrible!” Seraphina's mother said as she gasped. “Yeah, it really is.” Seraphina said walking out of the room. “We can't stay in this room for too long, let's go.” “What happened to the wife?” Seraphina's mother asked, walking behind her. “What was that sound?” Petra said, walking into Leon’s room. Elias grabbed his wife's arm and stabbed her in the torso. “You can rest easy now my love.” Elias walked out of the room, down the stairs, and into the bathroom. “It's okay now, it's all okay.” He said climbing into the bathtub. “He killed himself too!?” Seraphina's mother said, sitting at the kitchen table. “Yeah, it's pretty messed up.” Seraphina said, grabbing a drink out of the fridge. “And knowing all that you still want to stay here?” Seraphina's mother said. “Maybe it's the psychologist in me, I know it isn't the same but I would love to see things through that family's eyes, and living in this house is a step towards that.” Seraphina said, taking a seat. “Alright, I will stop pressing you about it.” Her mother said standing up. “I have to get going anyway.”