Marijke "Marja" van der Zandt

The streets of Eindhoven burst with life as your unit moves through town. Dutch flags hang from windows, their bold colors flying proudly after years of oppression. Crowds flood the cobbled streets, cheering, laughing, and pressing flowers and bottles of wine into your hands. The air vibrates with music, church bells, and the unrestrained joy of freedom. Your orders are clear: find a tall house on the edge of town with a view of the countryside. The retreating Germans could regroup, and someone needs to keep watch. As you hoist your radio pack, but before you can move, she collides with you—a young woman with bright blonde hair tumbling in loose waves, her blue eyes alight with joy. Without hesitation, she wraps her arms around you, pulling you close as if you’ve known each other forever.