As I lay on my bed, the salvo of gunshots echoed in my ears. Every day, more and more people are killed. I lay there, thinking about the war, like I did every night, and prayed. My whole family is planning the next step. Father and Mother were in the guest room earlier, whispering to each other, but when I came in, they became deadly silent. The fact that they're hiding something is bothering me.
My name is Lisa. Tomorrow is my thirteenth birthday, and yet I feel unsafe.
Hitler is growing wilder and so I am afraid that our family will be captured if we don't flee. Hitler's intentions are clear. He wants to wipe out the Jews. As I came down to breakfast, I heard the same hushed voices I heard a few nights ago. It was my parents. I froze.
Father said, “I think our organization has been exposed to Hitler. By a betrayer".
"But who could it be? We can't just say to our organization, oh there is a betrayer and so if you are the betrayer, step out. They would know and capture our organization right away, " I gasped. My parents looked at the stairs and saw me.
They came and said, "listen sweetie, we didn't want you to know because we were worried about your safety,”
"I don't care!" I yelled. As I ran upstairs, tears ran down my face. I was not angry because they were in their organization thing. I would've been proud if they had told me and trusted me but since they didn't tell me, I feel like I'm not trustworthy. It makes me think that my parents don't trust me at all. That whole day I didn't want to say anything to them but a few words like, "the dinner was good.” Or "thank you for bringing the food.” At bedtime, Mother came in.
"I know that you think that we don't trust you, but it concerns your safety.”
"I'm sorry Mother. I know that you only want to protect me, but I can't help but think that I'm useless and not trustworthy. "
"Now that you know, you can ask any question that you want to know and I'll try my best to answer what you want me to,”
"Are we going to have to flee like the other people who oppose Hitler?"
"I hope not but I'm not sure about the outcome of being exposed to Hitler is but until we know for sure, we can't flee."
"Why? Why can't we just go away and live free lives in some other country?"
"We can't go because so many other Jews will be slaughtered and tortured."
We paused for a minute or so, and then, Mother broke the silence, "anyways,
you do remember what day today is right? "I shook my head.
"Today, you are a teenager!" exclaimed Mother. That's right! I totally forgot about my birthday. Thirteen years already!
"Come now, your cake is awaiting outside. " coaxed Mother.
"I'll change first. I need to be in my favorite dress for my birthday. "I closed the door and danced around my room. ‘I can't believe that I'm thirteen already. Thirteen!' I thought. I looked into my closet, trying to find a dress that would match the occasion. The first dress was a snow white house dress. It had stains everywhere. I decided no. the next dress had a pink tint to it. There were some ribbons that were frayed and the lace was all ripped. Not the perfect dress. And on and on I looked until I came across a perfect dress.
"I think this will work" I said. The dress was lilac and had pretty white bows and purple lace. It had a lilac flower in the center of each bow. It was even a ballroom gown that Mother bought for me last year. I have only worn it once even! So I quickly changed and ran downstairs. Father and Mother were waiting next to the table, Father was bearing the birthday cake and Mother bearing a nicely wrapped box. I smiled and walked towards them.
Mother said, "Make a wish." I thought 'I hope that the holocaust is going to end soon and that we can live freely without being scared that someone might be coming after us any day. ' I blew the candle, careful not to get my dress in the cake.
Then, Mother walked towards me and handed me the box. I carefully unwrapped the box. Excited, I looked inside. Inside the box was a pair of lilac silk gloves that completely matched with my dress.
"I knew you were going to wear that dress and so I figured that I could make you something that would go with it. I couldn't buy it because the seamstress down the road closed her shop and fled. So I had to make it myself. It may not look nice, but I hope you like it. "
"I don't like it,” I said, seeing my Mother frown, "I love it!"
"I'm glad you do." said Mother. We sat down at the table and I cut the cake.
We enjoyed the cake and talked about how good it was. Suddenly, someone kicked our door. I yelped as Mother and Father pulled me out of the back door. I ran for my life and kept running and running until hours and hours passed by and time blended into nothing, but I kept running, not caring how sore my legs were or how dehydrated I was or even whether where my parents were. My parents! I completely forgot about them! I stopped, heart thumping and throat burning, looking around for a sign of them. Panicking, I ran around not seeing anybody. And then my parents ran from the other side of the street. I was so relieved to see them. Mother was even carrying my gloves. She handed me them. I put the gloves on, admiring the radiant and smooth silk.
Father said, "I think we have to flee. Hitler's people have already discovered us.
We are going to go to Sweden. "
"But what if they follow us to Sweden?” I said.
"They can't. They can only get us if we are in Germany or here in Denmark." "Father, I think that we are very lucky. We are only about two miles away from the coast. We can probably get there if we hurry."
"How do you know?" asked Mother.
"Because it says that on the sign over there." I replied. So we kept going to the east for an hour or so until we saw the coast extending in both directions and the moonlight reflecting in the water of the Baltic Sea. I was brainstorming out loud about where we were going to sleep when the breathtaking sight caught my attention. The calm water was like a shining stone that went on and on until it was disturbed by the dry cracked land on the other side. The sea stone was rippling because of the light breeze coming from the north.
"I think we can rest on the beach tonight." I said. Father and Mother laughed.
I sighed. I've only been gone for a few hours and yet I'm homesick already. I can't believe that all these years of my life I've spent at what I call home and it's all gone in only a few hours. It even happened on my birthday! My parents decide to actually settle on the beach, as I recommended. I carefully sat down in the rough sand. Today was a long and hard birthday. And even though I did not realize, I fell asleep.
In the morning, I woke up with my stomach growling for food. Mother was busy trying to make fire and Father was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Father?" I asked.
"He is trying to catch fish and find a boat for us to go on." replied Mother. A few minutes later, Father came back bearing a proud look and some fish.
"I found the perfect boat for us. And I also found three fish..“ he said. "That's good." said Mother.
But just then, someone yelled, "They're over there! Catch them!"
"Run!" Father screamed. We ran after him towards the dock. We then hopped onto a boat and Father paid the owner of the boat. All of us took an oar and rowed the boat the fastest we can, not stopping for any longer than a second or two to catch our breaths. We rowed and rowed until we could no longer stand picking up the oars and dropped onto our backs. 'We made it,' I thought, 'to the other side.'
Ten Years Later
I stood on the patio and sighed. Now I'm twenty-three. Time passes by so quickly. Just yesterday, I was rowing my heart out, escaping from Denmark for my life. Now, ten years later, I stand here in Sweden at my new home.
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