The room was completely dark except for the sun that scarcely put Andrea’s face into view.  Although the garish sun shimmered through the window, the corner Andrea and Carlos had huddled themselves into had kept them covered in a modest darkness.  The streets outside the window were barren, except for a few bold men who lazily sprawled on the bench outside of the grocers’.  The distant clamour of soldier’s boots bounced through the streets, making Andrea’s cheeks wet with tears.
Carlos set his chin in the crook of Andrea’s collarbone, holding her from behind.  He could smell her perfume she had spritzed on right before they heard the soldiers.  It reminded him of daisies, calming him.
“Maybe they’ll march through this time.  Maybe they won’t stop and scavenge,”  Carlos said, trying to buy her comfort even though he was penniless.
“They’re vultures,” Andrea replied, trying to sound apathetic, but her tone of voice shielded her like an umbrella with holes ripped through it.  Even Carlos knew she was afraid.
The couple sat in silence.  With each step a soldier took, Carlos’s fingers trembled even more, but Andrea gently took his hand and rested it on her lap.  Their fingers wove together like threads of a cloth.
Carlos needed Andrea.  He needed her hand to steady his breathing.  But in his mind, he knew Andrea didn’t need him.  Even if she didn’t need him, she stayed, just so she wouldn’t feel the guilt.
“Don’t worry, they’ve never gotten to us,” Carlos said, attempting to reassure Andrea.
“Stop letting your guard down like it’s okay.  That’s how they get you,”  Andrea snapped, but as soon as the words left her mouth she wanted to catch them once again.  All she wanted was to protect Carlos, but he was naive and romantic.  Maybe she should have apologized for what she said, but she never did.
Soon the silence turned into the chilling sound of boots that were too close to sit around anymore. 
Easing her way up the to the windowsill, Andrea peeked outside.  A few soldiers carried bloodied knives and the bench was empty.  Andrea tried to prop herself up a little more, but stumbled, causing her knee to slam against the concrete floor.  Startled, a few soldiers glanced over to the building in which Andrea and Carlos had been hiding in.
  Grabbing Andrea’s wrist, Carlos pulled her back. “Don’t let your guard down,” he harshly whispered.  His voice was low and his eyebrows buried.
A low grumble of boots poured into the building, and the two could hear voices in the front lobby.  Carlos crawled over to the door, pushing his thumb into the knob that locked the door.  Slowly he made his way back to Andrea, kissing her cheek.
“What do you think you’re doing?  You idiot!” muttered Andrea angrily.  Before she could move back, hard steps in hard boots ran up the stairs in perfect unison.  When they heard the door open of the apartment two doors down from theirs and a scream, they collapsed back into each other.  Carlos put his chin back in the crook, smelling the daisies for what could have been the last time.