Hey so this is a story I was thinking about, and it seemed interesting as it was not mentioned in the book. I do not own anything. Please read, review, and enjoy!

Ellen's mom carefully combed her hair, taking out all the knots. After all, this was a big day. the last time the met they were five years younger. She had been very worried, but Ellen still held the hope that someday she would see her best friend again. she had missed her so much. But now, Ellen was doubting herself, as she had changed so much and was sure Annemarie was the same. While she and her family had gotten to safety, Ellen's grandparents and uncle got captured and went to concentration camp. They never saw them again. She remembered the liberation, and how she and her parents had cried when they found out. they all knew that nothing was to be the same. Now, her relationship with her best friend may not be either.

"Ellen, are you excited to see Annemarie again?" Ellen's mom asked.

"Yes, it's just that I am worried we will be too different." Ellen admitted, and her mother nodded as well and seemed to understand. She wondered why her mother had that look of understanding.

"Nonsense. I'm sure that you two will continue to be friends, as friendship rarely ends," the word rarely lingering on her tongue.

"Mother, are you alright?"

"No, Ellen, I need to tell you something." By the tone of her voice, Ellen suspected that this coming story was going to be sad. She had heard that voice when she heard the news of her grandparents' passing, as well as her uncle's.

"What's wrong? Here, sit with me." Ellen patted the seat next to her, motioning for her to sit.

"Well, when I was I think eleven, I had a best friend too, Christina. She and I were the best of friends, always spending so much time together. We grew up together, having many sleepovers and playdates. She and I were friends during the hard time of World War One. We stayed together. But she had gone to Germany for some higher education, and she learned their ideas. Suddenly, she was hostile toward me, didn't like me. I did not know what had happened, and then I realized that she was married to a high up general, and he learned the ways that Hitler taught, and taught them to her. She was awful. the last words she said to me were, well inappropriate, but she made it clear to me that she never wanted to see me again. Think, someone who was my best friend, hating me just because of my, our religion. But then when we met the Johansens. They were the exact opposite, and when you met Annemarie, I knew everything was different. And them keeping you safe, helping us escape here, to Sweden, they proved themselves to be amazing friends. I that is why I know Elle, that what happened to me won't happen to you."

Ellen was at a loss for words. She couldn't have imagined what had happened to her mother, so she swiftly changed the subject. "Mother, when are we going to see the Johansens again?"

Her mother perked up a bit, happy to be off the sad subject. "We will be going back on Annemarie's uncle's boat in an hour."

"Okay, I'm very excited."

Her mother smiled, although with a hint of sadness still lingering, as she noticed that Ellen looked so much like herself at that age.

Skip forward to when they see the boat coming

The boat was approaching. It still looked like it had when they fled to Sweden. The detailing, everything. She could still remember how scared she was, yet proud of how much courage her friend had. It had been such a long time, and she was very ecstatic to both meet her friend again, and come back to the home she loved. She hoped that everything would go back to normal, but she had a gut feeling that she was mistaken. All she hoped for was that she and Annemarie did not turn out like her mother and Christina. She took a deep breath, bracing herself, and headed onto the boat.

While Ellen was worrying, across the small body of water, Annemarie was too. Not just her, but her whole family was jumpy. She, as Ellen was, worried. All Annemarie wanted was to speak and talk and be around Ellen. Her father had willingly fixed the star of David necklace, and Annemarie had put it in a velvet box and wrapped it up. She hoped that Ellen would like it, and would also not mind that Annemarie wore it a few times. Both girls still remembered the day that one had left. One's perspective from the dock, the other from the bottom of a stinky ship. Both felt separated. From their old lives and each other. Annemarie woke aerly, as did her uncle, and helped him prepare for Ellen's arrival. He left, and she too, readed herself for her best friend coming back.

I hope you all liked that! Please review and share with your friends! It helps motivate me and your comments help tell me what you like and want to see in the story.