EmilyVierling

IStandStrong

Itisacrispwintermorning.Mythinbodystructureshiversasthecoldairlurksovermy
bed.Theuniqueflurriesfallfromtheskyandlandonmyrottenwindowsillwithaserene
presence.Mytown,Weinbhlaisjustwakingup.Thelightoftherisingsunpeeksoverthe
horizon.Istepoutofthecomfortofmycoversandputonmyrobe,catchingmyshiningblond
hairinthecollar.Ipullitaroundandfastenitintoatightbraid.Iwalkoutontoourricketyporch
andlookoutacrossthefrozenpondinourbackyard.Thewhitesettinginfrontofmeclashes
withmyoceanblueeyes.Achillgoesupmyspineasabitingwindrushespastoursmallhouse.
Mybrothercomesupbehindme,

Ana,whatareyoudoing?

ImjustthinkingElbort.

Aboutwhat?

Isilencemyselfandturnaroundtofacehim.Hispiercingazureeyeslookupatmewith
worry.Igrasphiminahugandkisshisforehead.

Comeon,itschilly.Letsgoinside.

Itakehissmallhandandleadhimthroughtheopendoorintothekitchen.Itellhimto
grababookandsitatthetable.Ilookinourcabinets,empty.Iscavengearoundandeventually
findabiscuitandsomeoldcoffeegrains.Isavethecoffeeformammaandpapaandsplitthe
biscuitbetweenElbortandI.ThenIhearthepumpoutside,mustbepapa.Iruntogreethimas
hetrudgesupthefilmystepstoourhouse.Heiscoveredinajacket,mittens,longpants,ahat,
andascarf.TheonlythingIcanrecognizeishiseyes,theoneshegavetoElbortandme.

Ana,helpmewiththiswaterplease.

AsInearcloserIhavetocranemyneckevenmoretolookhimintheeyesbecausehe
towersfaraboveme.Istarttodragtheextremelyheavybucketofwaterandhebeginstolaugh.

Ana,dontworry.Iwontmakeyoudragthatheavythingallthewaytothekitchen.

Ismileupathimandwalkcarefullyovertheinvisibleblackicetothekitchendoor.I
openthedoortoacrackle.Oilspurtsupfromapanfilledwitheggs.Mamastandstherewitha
brightsmilethatlightsuptheroom.Shemustvegoneouttocollecttheeggsfromthechickens.
SheleansdowntoElbertandkisseshishead.

YoualwaysmakemelaughElbort.

Hegrinsandhopsintothechairlocatedattheheadofthetable.Papawalksinandpickshimup
andplaceshimdownnexttohim.

Yourenotthemanofthehouseyet.

Mamalaughsasaknockatthedoorsilencestheflavorofdelightinthehouse.Papas
eyessuddenlyturnstonecold.Mamahaslostherbeautifulsmileshewalkstowardsthedoor
slowlyandopensittorevealaslightlylargermanwhohasascrunchedface.Hehasatight
uniformonandapointyhatbearingtheNazisymbolthatscarcelyfitshisprodigioushead.His
eyesarealmostnonexistentandhiseyebrowsriseincuriosityashepeersthroughthecrackof
theslightlyajardoor.

IhavecometoseeArnoldRhen,hesputterswithauthority.

MamaturnsaroundwithaperplexedlookonherfaceandshemotionstoPapa.Hegets
upquicklyandwalksoutsidetogreetthecorpulentman.Ieventuallyhearyellingandthenquiet
talk.Papaslouchesbackthroughthedoorandwhisperssomethingtomama.

Verena.

Hisvoicetrailsoff,Icranemynecktotryandhearmore.IjumpbackasMamascreams
andfallstothefloorinaheapoftears.Iruntoherandembraceherinatighthug.Istillhaveno
ideawhathashappened,butitisserious.Papahasneverhadsuchastern,sadlookonhisface
andIhaveneverseenmamaweeplikethis.ElbortstartstotraipsetowardsPapabutIstophim.

DontElbort.Didntyouseethelookonhisface?Hewantstobealone.

ButIwanttocomforthim,likeyoudidMama.

Awaterysubstancestreamsdownmyface.Elbortsfacecontortsinconfusion.

YoucancomfortmeElbort.

Hehugsme,yetpartofmeiscomfortinghim,protectinghimfromtheuglytruththatI
amobliviousto.AfteranhourorsoIwalkintoMamaandPapasroom.IseePapasittingthere
withaburlapsacknexttohimstuffedwithhisbelongings.

WhereareyougoingPapa?Iaskhimwithconcern.

Ana,Iamgoingawayforalittlewhile.

Wheremustyougothatissoimportanttothatman?

Itsdifficulttoexplain.

Irespecthiswishesandsilencefillstheroom.Isitdownnexttohimandlookatthe
floor.Imaybeonlyeightyearsold,butIknowwhereheisgoingwar.Thatmanistakingmy
Papaawayfromme.

Whyareyougoing?

Ihavenochoice,Ana.

Youalwayshaveachoice,Papa.

Iwishthatwastrue.

IstormoutIammadatmyfather.Icantexplaintherageofhimchoosingthewarover
hisfamily.IcomeintothekitchentoseeMamastillweepingandElbortsittingnexttoher
strokingherarmattemptingtocomforther.Papacomesoutwithhisburlapsackswungbehind
hisshoulder.Elbortsfaceperplexesashestudiestheburlapsackwithcuriosityinhiscolossal
eyes.Papawalksover,pickshimupandembraceshiminatighthug.Elbortssmall,chubby
facestartstoturnbluewhenPapafinallyreleaseshim.Hethencomesovertomeandpicksme
offmydaintyfeet,twirlsmearound,setsmedown,andkissesmyhead.Itrynottoacknowledge
hisgestureofsayinggoodbyebecause,afterall,Iamfuriousathim.Iseehiseyesovercome
withsadnessashefacesmymother.Theyspeakwiththeireyesandheclutchesherinhisstrong
armsheneverwantstoletgo.Thefloorboardssqueakasmyfatherspinsonhisheelsandheads
towardsthedoor.Heopensthescreendoor,exits,andturnsonelasttimetoseehisbeautiful
family.HeishalfwayacrossthefieldwhenItearthroughthedoorandsprintafterhim,my
Mamacallingmynameinthedistance.

Papa,pleasedontgo!IyellasIripacrossthefield,scrapingmylegsonthepricklybushes.I
runuptohimandfallintohisoutstretchedarms.Hiswarmtearsspillontomyshoulder.He
standsupandmerelywhispers,

Ihavenochoice.

SteppingbackwardsItripoverasmallrock.MyPapahelpsmeupfromthemoist
ground.Hehugsmeonelasttimebeforeheslipsawayfrommygrasp.Iwatchasheslowly
makeshiswaytowardsthelonelydirtroadwhereanadventuretothenearesttrainstationawaits
him.Soon,heisjustalonelyfigurewalkingalongalonelydirtroadwitharaggedyandstained
burlapsackswingingbackandforth,fromshouldertoshoulder.

Papalefttwodaysago.ThepainthatMamafeelshasconfinedhertoherbedElbortand
Ihavefoundlittletodo.MyfavoriteplaceisbythewindowinPapasstudy.Thereisasoft
cushionalongthewindowsill,Papausedtosithereeverydaytothink,nowIdo.Theskyisstill
blanketedinalayerofgrayspreadingavibeofsadnessoverWeinbhla.Suddenlyashifting
resonatesfrominsidemyparentsroom.

Mama?

Shewalksintotheroomwearingadulldresswithhertinyfeetinshortheels.

Wereleaving.

What?Iaskwithconcern.

WeregoingtoDresden.
Dresden.TheheartofcultureandhistoryinGermany.Ihaveneverbeen,butpeoplein
myclasshaveandsaywonderfulthings,beautifulthings.InodmyheadatMamaandgotomy
roomtopack.Iamonlyallowedtohaveonesuitcase.Idontwastethespaceonclothesand
othermeaninglessitems.Instead,Ipackonlythreedresses,twopairsofshoes,socks,and
undergarments.TherestoftheemptyspaceIfillwithtokensfrommylifehereinWeinbhla.
ThebraceletPapaboughtmefromaboutiquewhenitfirstopeneddowntown,abirthdayletter
fromElbort,Papaswatch,andmyteddybearwhichwasagiftfrombothMamaandPapafor
myfourthbirthday.IwalkoutintoourlivingareaandfindElbortandMamawiththeirsuitcases.

WheresPapassuitcase?

Mamaignoresmyquestionandhurriesusoutthedoor.Itrytotakemytimetoabsorb
intomyheadallofthebeauty,detail,andmemoriesofmyhome.Then,Mamaclosesthedoor
andthedreamisover.

ItisJanuary22,1945,thedaythatIleft.Mama,myself,andElborthavefinallyarrived
intheheartofGermany,Dresden.Afterleavingourhome,weboardedatrainandtooktheroute
toDresden.Thetripwasaboutanhourandahalf.Itwasmyfirsttimeonalocomotive.The
interiorwasluxuriouswithsoftplaidseatsandminiaturechandeliershangingfromtheceiling.
Mymotherseemedveryfamiliarwiththisfascinatingpieceoftechnology.

TheridetoDresdenwasbeautiful.Elbortslepttheentireway,butIstayedawake
admiringthesweetscenerythatpassedbythewindowasthetrainmovedalong.Whenyoufirst
exitWeinbhlayouenteravastforestofPines,thereflectionoftheirrichgreencolorradiated
offthecrystalclearwindowswithinthetrain.Then,weroundedacornerandmyviewopened
uptoavastvalley.Smallhillscollapsedovereachotherasiftheywereroaringwavesinthe
ocean.Thetraincontinuedalongasmallcliffsidearoundthevalley.WeroundedacornerandI
sawthemagnificentcity.Therewasaseaofbuildingspresentbeforeme,aswirlofdarkness
risingfromsmokestacks.Ithenclosedmyeyes.

Wearenowonthetrainstationplatform.Crowdsofpeoplesurroundme.Theplatformis
mostlyfilledwithwomeninsophisticatedclothingwithfloppyhatsconcealingtheirfaces.Most
haveshockedchildrengluedtotheiroutstretchedhand.Ilookaroundandseemagnificenttowers
piercethebluesky.Eachtowerhasaclockofitsown.Theychimeinunisoncreatingapowerful
sound.Aviewupintotheskyisprovidedbythehugeglasswindowthatreflectssunlightinto
thechamberofpeople.Mamawalksforwardwithhersuitcasedanglingfromherfrailhands.I

grabmineandshouttoElbortwhoismesmerizedbythebigcity.IfollowMamaasshetwists
andweavesherwaythroughtheseaofpeopleuntilwereachtheexit.Mamapushesthedoor
openandrevealsthestreets.Carriagespassbyalongwithmodernvehicles.Peoplecrowdthe
sidewalks.Thearomaofsweetpastriesfilltheair.Achildnearmedropshericecream.She
startstowailashermotherpicksherupinherarms.IlookaroundandseeMamahailingataxi.
Wepileintothescrunchedcarandareonourway.Thecityisalive.Isensetheenergyfrom
everything.Mamalooksthroughthewindowandsmilesforthefirsttimeindays.Shepointsto
buildingsandartisticfeaturesalongthesidewalkandexplainstometheirpurpose.Isoonput
twoandtwotogether.

Youusedtolivehere,didntyou?

Shenods,WhenIwasyourage,myparentsbroughtmehere.Welivedhereforabouta
yearbeforewemovedontootherplaces.Dresdenwasmyfavoriteplace.Theculture,thehistory
itwassooverwhelming,butinagoodway.

Ismile,IhadjustlearnedsomethingnewaboutmyMama.Wecontinueforaboutthirty
minutesuntilfinallywepullupnexttoasmallapartment.Theapartmentiscoveredinvines,and
hasbeautiful,rustic,redbricksupanddownthewalls.Mamastepsoutofthetaxi,thanksthe
driver,andhandshimsomechange.Istepoutandgrabmysuitcasefromtheback,Elbort
followsbehindme.Iwalkupthesmallstepstothedoor.Mamatakesthekeyoutofherpocket
andinsertsitintothelockandturns.Ihearafaintclickandthedoorswingsopen.Itisdarkand
musty,thereisonlyonewindow.Mamawalksinandturnsonthelights.Therestoftheroom
becomesclear,theoriginalhardwoodfloors,thebigfireplace.Ilookupandseethelightis
comingfromasmallbulbontheceiling.Elbortpushespastmeandrunsupthericketystaircase
hiddeninthecorner.Idropmyheavysuitcaseandrunafterhim.Iwalkintoabigemptyroom
withthreedoorshingingoffthesides.Isaunterintooneofthemandseeawondrousviewofthe
city,allthewaytothecenter.IturnaroundandseeElbortbehindme.Hegrinsandmakesme
realizethatthisreallyisntsobad.IholdhishandandleadhimbacktothecartohelpMama
unloadtherestofthesuitcases.
Itisaquietdinner.Elbort,Mama,andIallsitaroundthesmalltablewithnothingtosay.
Mamaclearsthedinnerplatesandpullsoutapackagefromthecupboard.Itcontainsadelicious
pastrytosplitbetweenthethreeofus.ElbortandIboththankherandtakepiecesandgobble
themdown.ElbortandIchoseourrooms.Idecidedtochoosetheonefacingthecity,thelights
reflectingoffthewindowcreatingasenseofcomfortintheroom.Elbortchosetheroomwiththe
lessdrasticviewandlightsbecausehehasahardtimesleeping.Thebedishardandtheaircold.
Ipulltheblanketsuptomyneckandshiverslightly.Ithenclosemyeyesandhopeforgood
dreams.

IthasbeenabouttwoweeksnowthatwehavebeeninDresden.Itiswonderfulbeing
here,howeverIstillcantforgetabouthowPapaisdoing.Iwonderwhereheis,whatis
happeningtohim,thehorrorsofwar,thedeath,hemustbeexperiencing.Irundownstairsfrom
mybedroomandseeMamasearchingthecupboardsfrantically.

WhatswrongMama?


OhAna!Goodyourehere.Doyoumindrunningdowntothemarketdownthestreetand
grabbingmesomeeggs?

Shewalksoverandputssomechangeintomyhand.Igrimaceatthethoughtofwalking
outinthetragicallycoldweather,butofcourseIsayyes.Iwalkoutoftheapartmentandstart
thetreadtothemarket.IamadmiringtheviewasIaccidentlybumpintosomeoneandknockall
ofhisbooksoutofhishand.

Oh!Iamsosorry!

Ireachdownandstarthandinghimbackhisbooks.Ilookupandseethatheisayoung
boy,maybeayearyoungerthanme.Ihandhimthebooks.Hesuddenlyblurtsout,

Hereyougo,haveabook.Thanksforpickingthemupforme.

Iamstartledandalmostjump.

Excuseme?

Haveabook,Ihavetogetridofthemanyway.Hehasasorrowfullookonhisface.Hisbig,
chocolatebrowneyesnervouslybobbleupanddown.Ireachoutmyhandandheplacesanewly
publicatedAmericanbooktitled,

ATreeGrowsinBrooklyn,byBettySmith.Itisoneofmyfavorites.

ThisisanAmericanbook,whywouldIwanttoreadit?

Itsinteresting,ourfascinationwithjusttheGermanculture.TryAmericanforachange.

Fine,Illreadit.

Great!Letmeknowwhenyouhavefinishedit.

HeskipsdownthesidewalkandisalmostoutofsightwhenIyell,

Wait!Whatisyourname?

Thomas.Whatsyours?

Ana.

Ismileandcontinuetowardsthemarket.

IwakeuptothewonderfulworksofJackFrostonmywindow.Theviewisobscuredthe
thethousandsoftinyclearcrystals.Theskyisconcealedbyablanketofwhitefog.Ithoughtfor
surewinterwasgoingtorecedesoon,yetIwaswrongagain.Ihearwhimperingdownthehall
towardsmothersroom.Ileapoutofthewarmthofmycoversandroundthecorner.Thedoorto
Mamasroomisslightlyopen.IpeerinandseeMamahunchedovercryingintoapillow.Ienter
slowlytonotstartleher.Shelooksup,herfacepaleandblotchy.Invisiblestreakscoverher
cheeks.Asshetriestowipeawaythetears,Iseeherdaintyhandquiverandthencollapse,taking
therestofherhunchedbodywithit.Iruntoherside,andslipintothecoversofherbed.

WhatswrongMama?

Sheissilent.Ilookovertohernightstandandseeanopenedletter.Istarttoshakeand
realizewhymyMamaiscrying.

Papa?

Shenodsslowlyandgraspsmeinahug.Myeyesdontclose,forIknowiftheydotears
willstarttofallfromthem.IslowlyreleasemyselffromMamasgraspanddartdownstairs
wheremycoat,jackets,mittens,hat,andbootssitnearthedoor.Iputthemonhastilyandpush
throughthedoor.Thesidewalksarebusyandmakemeclaustrophobic.AsIrundownthe
sidewalkastronggustofwindsurprisesmeandwhipsmyhatoffmyhead.Iseeitfloataheadof
me.IrunafteritandstopasIseeThomaspickmybrightyellowhatofftheground.Hegrinsand
startstowalktowardsme.

Losesomething?

Iyankitfromhishandandcontinuetowardstheparkattheendofthestreet.Ithas
startedtosnowandIfeelsmalldropletscollidewithmyshoulder.Ifinallyreachtheabandoned
swingsetinthecommunityparktowhichnooneevervisits,exceptformeofcourse.Iam
wearingthebraceletPapagaveme.Itismeticulouslycraftedandhasbeautifulbeadshangfrom
eitherchain.Thebeadsclashfromtheforceofthewind.Idecideitistimetoheadback.Iwalk
slowly,miserably,throughthecrowdedstreets.Iwalkuptotheapartmentbuilding,righttothe
largereddoorandlookup.Apatchofblueskypiercesthroughtheblanketofclouds,justlike
Papaseyes.

HelloPapa.

Then,Iburstintotears.

February10th1945.AdateIwillneverforget.ThedayIfoundoutthatmyPapahadhis
lifetakenfromhim.Papahasbeengonethreedaysnow.Itisunbearablyawfultositherewith
nothingtodobutthink.Mamaisinthekitchen,andmourningmiserably.Idontknowhowshe
hidesthetears,forwhathappenedtoheristragic.Iwalkoutsideandstarttowardsthemarket.I
seeafamiliarface,Thomas.Iwalkuptohim.

Whatareyoudoinghere?

MyMama,Papa,andIlivejustoverthere.

Hepointstoarusticbuildingacrossthestreetfrommine.

Doyoumindcomingtothemarketwithme?

Notatall.

Wetalkaboutourfamilies,whywearehereinDresden.Itellhimaboutmyfatherand
whyIwassorudetheotherday.Heapologizes,butforsomereasonitdoesntmakemefeelany
better.Idontwantthepityofothers.Millionsofotherfamilieshavebeenputthroughthesame
misery.ItalktohimabouttheNaziPartyandmyviewsonit.Ithinkthatadictatorshouldnot
ruleoverthecountry.Everyonefollowshimforthefearofbeingkilled.IexplaintohimthatIdo
notwanttobeowned,thatIdonotwanttobecontrolled.Heagrees,yetisstillabithesitantto
admit.

Whatareyouafraidof?Heaskswithuncertainty.

Oblivion,Iguess.Iwanttoberemembered.

Hefallssilent.Ilookupattheskyandseecloudsstartingtobillow.

Ibestbegoing.Lookslikeastormiscoming.

LittledidIknowhowever,thatastormreallywascoming.

IwakeupdisorientedtomyMamashakingmeandthemournfulwailingofthesirens.I
lookattheclock,9:51pm.IquicklygetupandhearMamasshudderingvoice.

Ana!Wehavetogo,wehavetogetoutofhere!Now!

Shetakesoffintomybrothersroom,repeatingthesameterrifyingwordstohim.Igrab
mycoat,mittens,hat,andboots.FortimessakeIgrabmybrotherstoo.Werushdownstairsand
openthedoortofranticfrenzy.Peoplelitterthestreetseverywhere.IsearchforThomasbut
cannotrecognizehisfaceintheseaofpeople.MamagrabsmyhandandIgrabElborts.She
leadsusdowntheblocktoahouse.

Youneedtoletusin,pleaseIhavetwochildren.

Tearsspilldownherfaceandrelieffillsitwhenthesternlookingwomannodsherhead
sharply.Iamconfused,somanyquestionsraginginmyhead.Ilookupandseetheskylightup
likeaChristmastree.Rediseverywhereanditilluminatesthethousandsofplanesaboveus.I

followMamadownaricketystaircasetoacellarinwhichmanyotherpeoplearetakingrefuge.
Suddenly,thesirensstop.Theyaresilentforwhatseemsalongtime,butreallywasonlyabout
tenminutes.Thegroundshakes.IfeelMamaquiver.Thenthebombingbegins.Thereisno
pausebetweendetonation,therockingissosevere,everyoneisthrownaboutthebasementlikea
bunchofragdolls.Iseethebasementwallsseparate,givingaclearviewtowhatishappening
outside.Icanseetheflashesoffieryexplosions,Phosphorusclingstothebodiesoutside,turning
themintohumantorches.Theheatinthebasementstartstobecomesosevere,almosttothe
pointofwhereIcantstandit.AttemptingtostabilizemyselfIputmyhandsagainstthewall.I
screamasthefleshburnsoncontact.MamagrabsElbortandIrunupthestairs.Weburst
throughthedoorandallIseeisaninfernoofflames.Ourstreetnolongerexists,Dresden,the
capitalofSaxony,acentreofart,theatre,music,museumsanduniversitylife,resplendentwith
gracefularchitecture,aplaceofbeautywithlakesandgardens,isnowcompletelydestroyed.I
lookforourapartmentbuildingwiththewonderfulview,butwhereitoncewasisnowempty
space.Thedeadlitterthestreetsaroundme,theodorofcharredbodiesrestingintheair.The
bombinghasstopped.PeopleemergefromsheltersandIfranticallysearchforThomas.Iyellhis
namemultipletimesoverandcrossthestreettohisbuilding.Ithascrumbledintoaheapof
debris.IlookaroundintherubbleofwhatusedtobeThomassbuilding.Bodypartsare
scatteredeverywhere.Iseeafamiliarfaceamongthecobblestones,wood,andglass.Ireachover
toremovealargepieceofwoodpreventingmefromidentifyingcorrectly.Iclosemyeyesand
thenopenthem.

ItsThomas.Idontcry,Icant.IruntoMama.AsIapproachInoticeIdoonlysee
Mama.

WheresElbort?

Hereyesfillwithaworriedlookandsearcharoundfrantically.Shecollapsesandstartsto
wail.Ifallandcomforther.

Wellfindhim.

Ihelpherupandwestarttosearchupanddownthestreetwithotherslookingforlost
lovedones.Wedontfindhim.Mamaisamess.ThenIseesomethingintherubbleofour
apartmentbuilding.Mamasfavoritegreenhatwiththedreadfulyellowflowerontheside.Igo
andgrabitandgiveittoMama.Sheputsitontightlytocoverhersaddenedface.Awomanhas
cleanedasmallsectionofthestreetwherepeoplecansleep.ImotiontoMamaandsheobliges.
Weliedownonthehardcementandattempttoclearourmindsofthenightmarewehadjust
endured.

Itsthreehourslater.Thebombingraidhascomeagain.Thistimewithmorepower,
moredeadliness.MamaandIseekshelterinasmallcellar.However,Iamreadytojumpoutat
anymomentforthecellarisatriskofbeinghit.Itsinteresting.Valentinesdayissupposedtobe
adayoflove,offorgiveness,ofcaring.Whatishappeningtousshowscarelessness,noloveor
forgiveness.Killinginnocentsforthefaultofonemanwhohasragedwar,thatiscruel.Theheat
startstobuildupinthecellar,peopleareslowlyexitingtofacethenightmareoutside.Mamaand

Istay,knowingthatinhereisbetterthanoutthere.Joltafterjoltcomes,knockingmeonmy
back.Mamahassomehowstayedcalm.WehavenoideawhereElbortis,itisprobablytoolate,
theclutchesofwarhavealreadytakenhim.Thebombingstopsyetagainandweemergefrom
theshelter.Flameslickthethickcloudofsmokeasitriseshigherandhigher.IgaspasIseethe
bodiesofneighbors,offriends.MamaandIrundownthestreetssearchingforaplacethathas
notbeenaffectedbythefire.Wefindanoldautomobilethatisawayfromanylifethreatening
flames.Weclimbinandsettledowntotryandsleep.

Iwakeupthenextmorningtonosunlight.Thecityiscoatedinalayerofashandrubble.
Thereisnothingleft.Igetoutofthecarandseepeoplebustlingaroundthestreetssearchingfor
survivors.Iboltafteroneofthemandexplainwhatmybrotherlookslike.Hiseyesgrowwith
concern.

Aboymatchingthedescriptionyouprovidedwasfounddeceasedthismorninglovely.Imso
sorry.

Icringeasthetruthhitsme.ItisonlymeandMamanow,noPapa,noElbort.Istep
backwards,IdontwanttotellMamaforfearshewilllosethehopethathasgottenherthrough
thepasthours.

Doyouknowwhattimeitis?

Hecheckshiswatchonhishandandshowsme.11:55am.Ihearthesirensagain.Apain
hitsmelikenoneother.IgetMamaandpullheroutofthecar.

Mama!Weneedtogo,now!

Shequicklygetsoutofthecaranddesperatelylooksforashelter.Ifollowherandseean
overhang.Ipointandwedashunderit.Iknowwearenotsafehere,wearenotprotected.There
isonlyroomforone.Sheknowsthistoo.Ihughertightlyandwhisperthewords,Iloveyou,into
herear.ThenIrunoutintotheopenstreet.

Thelastbombraid.Awomanstandsinthelonelystreet,standsoverachild.Achildwith
oceanblueeyesandperfectlyblondhair.Asthewomandropstoherknees,hergreenhatfalls,
revealingthehorrendousyellowflowerontheothersideofit.Shebendsdownandkissesthe
lostchildonherforeheadandcovershereyes.Sheletsoutahowlingwailandthencollapsesas
acrowdofpeoplecatchherfromhittingherburntheadontheconcrete.Thentheytakeher
away,awayfromthebravelittlegirlwholiesinthestreet.