Warsaw, Poland, October 31, 1940
The Kovalski family was walking, holding each their suitcases. They were walking into a crowd of people. People 'like them'. They were surrounded by the Nazis that were leading them to the right direction. It was cold outside but Natalia was still able to suffocate.
Natalia's mother turned around every two minutes or so to be sure that the four of her children were still behind her and her husband.
Izabela was holding her sister's shaky hand. They were both scared to death but Izabela tried to hide it just to reassure Natalia. Henryk and Andrzej were walking behind them to be sure that no one would tear their little sisters apart. The Nazis were yelling insults at them and Natalia was crying.
The walking gradually stopped and Natalia's father gave his kids and wife their papers to register themselves at the entrance.
"Everything's gonna be fine" he said, forcing a smile.
They waited for their turn to come and since Natalia was still under age, her mother walked with her to one of the officer standing there.
"Name?" he asked roughly in German.
Natalia looked at her mother with confusion and fear written all over her face. She didn't understand the German language and knew her mother did.
"Your name, honey" her mother whispered, scared.
Natalia looked at the officer.
"Natalia" she stuttered.
"Full name!" the officer yelled again in that strong language.
"Natalia Alicja Kovalska" her mother answered for her.
"I wasn't talking to you!" he shouted louder.
They both jumped and even though Natalia didn't understand, she simply repeated what her mother had just said, tears in her eyes. The Nazi asked for Natalia's mother's information and stamped something on both their papers before letting them in.
Natalia turned around and saw her sister walk to the officer with her father. She stood there, simply watching.
"Natalia, we have to walk" her mother said, taking her hand.
"But… Bella. And Papa, Henryk, Andrzej…"
"We'll get together later, I promise"
One hour later…
Two German soldiers brought Natalia's family in a seedy apartment block. Theirs was on the third floor. When the Germans left, slamming the door, Natalia jumped then looked at her new home with desolation. She had the sense that rats were already living in there. Her mother burst into tears when she saw in what they were going to live. Henryk hugged her.
"It's gonna be alright, mom. We'll get through this"
"I guess we'll have to sleep in the living room… Some of you can occupy the kitchen" Natalia's father said, realizing there was no bedrooms.
That night…
Natalia was lying down on the living room floor with her siblings. They left the couch to their mother and her poor back. Their father was sleeping in the kitchen. Natalia couldn't stop moving. She was scared and her 'bed' wasn't comfortable at all. Her stomach was rumbling, she hadn't ate anything since the morning but more than anything, she missed Zachary.
"Quit it, you're gonna wake up mom" Izabela whispered.
Natalia said nothing. She cuddled up to her sister and started crying. Izabela wrapped her arm around Natalia and stroke her tangled hair.
"I miss him" Natalia murmured. "I feel weak, like all my courage is gone"
"He's with you… you keep him in your heart"
Zachary had told her the same thing but she didn't believe it. That way he couldn't kiss or hold her. She couldn't look into his eyes or smell his scent. She thought about last night and closed her eyes. It should never have ended. She cursed the sun that rose this morning. She would've stayed in Zachary's arms forever. But she couldn't talk about this to anyone because it was a sin. She wasn't allowed to lose her virginity before marriage. And her father would never have accepted to give his youngest daughter's hand away to a soldier, an American soldier. Her father could torture her all he wanted, he would never stop her from loving Zachary.