Chapter 1
Poland 1941
So much has happened since the rise of Hitler. Us Jews can no longer go to cinemas, parks, we can't ride our bikes or go to theatres any more. All that's left for us to do is what I am doing right now. Day after day, I sit in front of my window with my chin in my hand and stare out my window. Waiting. For what though? A solution to all of this? No. not since the Germans put every Jew through hell.
My name is Llana. I live with my parents oldest family friend, Matthew. He is such a good man. Always trying to protect me from the dangers of the world. And that is not an easy job when there is no mother around. Matthew is a strong man of 32 years. His brown hair, hazel eyes and figure make him look as if he was only 20 years old. He had one girlfriend once. Her name was Leisel. She wasn't Jewish. And for that reason, they were never allowed to even think of each other again.
My parents died five years ago. They had caught the fever and died within three days. All my other relatives either didn't want me or were dead.
And since I had no other relatives at the time, I was handed down to Matthew.
I remember how I used to be, before the war. I was a wild spirit. I had a new crush on a boy almost every week. One time, a boy named Shmuel came to meet me at my house and walk me to school. Little did he know that Matthew was home. Matthew spent 20 minutes talking to Shmuel about his plans for the future. He even asked him " how do you plan on supporting Llana?". I thought that I would never get over it, but as I grew older, I learned what really deserves getting embarrassed at. I am over a lot of things now.
It was a gloomy April day when somehow I fell asleep reading a book. I awoke from yelling and loud knocking on the door. Matthew quickly came to me and gently woke me up to let me know what's happening. When he opened the door, two Gestapo officers with machine guns stood in front of him. An instant rush of panic swept over me. Why were they here? What had we done wrong? I knew that what ever happened, it was not going to be good.
" We are transporting all Jews from the part of the city to the ghetto until further plans." The officer looked as if he were 17 years old. He had on his swastika star wrapped around his arm of his coat.
They told us that we have only five minutes to pack whatever we can and get outside. For a split second, I thought that I saw a smile spread across the older officers face. It sickened me that humans can be so cruel.
"Please , Sir. There must be something that we can work out!" Matthew pleaded the officers to leave us alone, but they couldn't care less about us. Matthew started to raise his voice at the officers. He was getting angry.
" You can not tell us what to do ---" whack! The younger officer Hit Matthew square in the face with the bottom of his gun.
" Matthew!" I screamed as I ran over to him. I could see that his lip was bleeding so I snatched a rag and gently placed it on his lip.
" You bastards! You monsters!" I couldn't express with words what I was feeling. I wanted to shoot the officer with his gun. After I was just about done with my insults to the Nazis, I felt the sharp pain on a hand sweep across my face. The strike was so hard that it knocked me off my feet and onto the ground. The older officer then kicked me twice, hard, in the stomach and head. I could taste the blood in my mouth.
" Get up Llana. Quickly." Matthew whispered to me while helping me up. When I had finally staggered to my feet, Matthews gentle grip was replaced my a stronger and forceful one. The Older Nazis dug his fingers into my elbow and dragged me out of my house. I looked behind me and made sure that Matthew was following me. The cold brisk morning air caused a shiver to go down my spine. My lip was still bleeding from the beating I got earlier and started to stain my blouse.
" Move faster you stupid girl!" As soon as the Nazis released me from his grip, I ran into Matthews arms. I dug my face into his chest and sobbed. I didn't want to live in the ghetto, but even Matthews reassuring voice could not calm me down. My tears stained his shirt.
We both stood in the street along with a hundred other men, women and children, in the street for about two hours. When we finally started walking, I never let go of Matthews hand. I vowed that I would never be separated from him. Ever.
" We will never make it threw the ghetto. And if we do, we will be sent to the camps!" A women who was walking beside me kept screaming and yelling these same words over and over again.
" Don't listen to her Llana." I tightened my grip on Matthews hand. I tried to block out the women's voice, but her words were imbedded into my brain.
When we finally reached our destination I was shocked. All I saw was two stone doors surrounded by brick walls. As we walked threw the giant doors, I knew that my life was never going to be the same again. And I was right.