Wandering, wandering. That's what most minds ever do. They find or create their own hidden worlds to disappear from any sense of reality.
Granted, I wasn't wandering in my mind. I was wandering with my feet.
It was a light, beautiful summer's day of July, 1943. My family was back at our home, but I wasn't sure if I could take much more of that unfathomable abode.
We had recently moved into the rickety home after the war occurring back home. Mother had told the family it'd be safer. Father told the family not to speak of our religion.
We were all strongly devoted Catholics. We had never heard even the teachings of other religions. Mother considered it a bit drastic that we weren't allowed to know about them, but Father told us that the other religions were composed of lies and were unimportant. We know to listen to Father, or else he gets angry.
I was only wandering because it was lonely back home. My younger sister, Erin, had been sent off to America on her own 'for her own safety'. She had a host family in America who would take care of her until we were all allowed to be brought to America. I only hoped that they treated the ten year old girl with the proper care.
It was a horrid day when I learned Erin was sent away. It was a cool, breezy day in April- Erin's favorite kind of weather. I was sprinting down the city's cobblestone streets, bubbling over with anticipation to tell the young girl of my exciting school day, since she was homeschooled. But as I walked into the grand home, there was no noise. A couple minutes later was when I learned about where Erin had disappeared to, and that we had to move to a safer home away from the city.
Interrupting the trail of memories was a loud 'honk' that resembled that of a train. My head immediately perked up, and I examined the ground around me. I realized that not more than a few yards away were train tracks.
Father had always told me to stay away from these, I thought, maybe now I can learn why. I backed away from the tracks, and just in time, as a large, brown square came barreling around the corner. I heard voices. It almost sounded like the voices were pleading for help. The train slowed to a stop directly in front of me.
I began to grow nervous. I quickly dived into a bush next to me, not realizing it was a rose bush. I let out a small yelp, but I completely froze.
Very, very slowly I hear the light tap of footsteps. I hold my breath as I cautiously look up. Right above me were two Nazis. I could easily tell from the black, red, and white armbands on that they were officials.
"I swear I just saw the boy!" Their accents were heavy, but thankfully I could understand them, as mother had homeschooled me for a couple years and taught me some of the German language. Not much, though. This soldier's voice seemed much younger, and reminded me of my own voice.
"Do you think he ran?" The other soldier asked. His voice was deep and growled like that of a lion. His voice made me shutter.
"If he did, he wouldn't get very far." The younger one points out. "They're sweeping this area." When the soldier pointed this out, I noticed him glance down towards the rose bush I was in. Did he know I was there? Was he trying to warn me about the sweep?
I heard the older soldier chuckle. He seemed like he was about to say something, but he was interrupted by some yells for help in the cattle-car.
"Quiet!" The soldier yelled at the cattle-car. Suddenly, a couple loud pops and a few screams came.
I gasped, falling backwards from the shock of the gunshots. I landed on a bed of rose thorns, and I bite my lip, trying my best to hold in my pain. But, it hadn't worked.
"Pierdolić!" I yelp.
I completely froze once more. I had forgotten about the younger soldier. I look up, looking up at him as I became more nervous than I already was. He was looking directly at me. We held eye contact for a good couple seconds. I thought I was absolutely dead. No way could I survive this. But, I was too stunned to move.
"Peter!" The old soldier barked at the one who had caught my eyes.
"Y-Yes, sir?" He quickly stands to attention, breaking his gaze with me.
So his name is Peter..
"Did you see anything while I was at the cattle-car?"
This was it. My last few seconds alive. He was going to report me, and I'd never be heard from again. I'd get in trouble doing the one thing I loved to do.
To my shock, Peter shook his head. "No sir." He denied.
"Alright. Let's hurry, then. It's still a ways 'till we get to Auschwitz." The older soldier told Peter.
The soldier boy looked back down at me, a knowing look in his eyes. They then walk back to the cattle car. The train very gradually begins to move, growing faster and faster, until it disappears into the hills.
I was shocked. The soldier boy had lied to his commanding officer.
The Nazi had lied about a hiding enemy.
I realize that he could've easily been killed if I was found. He was risking his own life for mine.
I wasn't sure what to do, until I remembered Peter's warning. They were going to sweep the area. I knew I had to get home as soon as possible. I started sprinting, running as fast as I was able.