Introduction:Welcome,mynameisEmilyVierling.Mystoryistitled:IStandStrong.

My
storyfollowsan8yearoldgirllivinginGermanyduringWW2.Herfatherisdraftedintothewarand
hermother,herself,andherbrothermovetoDresdeninJanuary1945.Thestoryfollowsheradventures
andlifeinDresdenuntilthedreadfulnightofFebruary13,1945.Iwillbereadinganexcerptofmy
storywherethefirstbombraidhasenteredDresden.Ana,herbrother,andhermotheraretakingrefuge
inasmallcellardownthestreetfromtheapartmenttheyhadbeenstayingin.

Thegroundshakes.IfeelMamaquiver.Thenthebombingbegins.Thereisnopausebetween
detonation,therockingissosevere,everyoneisthrownaboutthebasementlikeabunchofragdolls.I
seethebasementwallsseparate,givingaclearviewtowhatishappeningoutside.Icanseetheflashes
offieryexplosions,Phosphorusclingstothebodiesoutside,turningthemintohumantorches.Theheat
inthebasementstartstobecomesosevere,almosttothepointofwhereIcantstandit.Tryingtostable
myselfIputmyhandsagainstthewall.Iscreamasthefleshburnsoncontact.MamagrabsElbortandI
runupthestairs.WeburstthroughthedoorandallIseeisaninfernoofflames.Ourstreetnolonger
exists,Dresden,thecapitalofSaxony,acentreofart,theatre,music,museumsanduniversitylife,
resplendentwithgracefularchitecture,aplaceofbeautywithlakesandgardens,isnowcompletely
destroyed.Ilookforourapartmentbuildingwiththewonderfulview,butseeitburnedtotheground.
Thedeadlitterthestreetsaroundme,theodorofcharredbodiesrestingintheair.Thebombinghas
stopped.PeopleemergefromsheltersandIfranticallysearchforThomas.Iyellhisnamemultiple
timesoverandcrossthestreettohisbuilding.Itisburnedtotheground.Ilookaroundintherubbleof
whatusedtobeThomassbuilding.Bodypartsarescatteredeverywhere.Iseeafamiliarfaceamong
thecobblestones,wood,andglass.Ireachovertoremovealargepieceofwoodpreventingmefrom
identifyingcorrectly.Iclosemyeyesandthenopenthem.

ItsThomas.Idontcry,Icant.IruntoMama.AsIapproachInoticeIdoonlyseeMama.

WheresElbort?

Hereyesfillwithaworriedlookandsearcharoundfrantically.Shecollapsesandstartstowail.
Ifallandcomforther.

Wellfindhim.

Ihelpherupandwestarttosearchupanddownthestreetwithotherslookingforlostloved
ones.Wedontfindhim.Mamaisamess.ThenIseesomethingintherubbleofourapartment
building.Mamasfavoritegreenhatwiththedreadfulyellowflowerontheside.Igoandgrabitand
giveittoMama.Sheputsitontightlytocoverhersaddenedface.Awomanhascleanedasmallsection
ofthestreetwherepeoplecansleep.ImotiontoMamaandsheobliges.Weliedownonthehard
cementandattempttoclearourmindsofthenightmarewehadjustendured.

Itsthreehourslater.Thebombingraidhascomeagain.Thistimewithmorepower,more
deadliness.MamaandIseekshelterinasmallcellar.However,Iamreadytojumpoutatanymoment
forthecellarisatriskofbeinghit.Itsinteresting.Valentinesdayissupposedtobeadayoflove,of
forgiveness,ofcaring.Whatishappeningtousshowscarelessness,noloveorforgiveness.Killing
innocentsforthefaultofonemanwhohasragedwar,thatiscruel.Theheatstartstobuildupinthe
cellar,peopleareslowlyexitingtofacethenightmareoutside.MamaandIstay,knowingthatinhereis

betterthanoutthere.Joltafterjoltcomes,knockingmeonmyback.Mamahassomehowstayedcalm.
WehavenoideawhereElbortis,itisprobablytoolate,theclutchesofwarhavealreadytakenhim.
Thebombingstopsyetagainandweemergefromtheshelter.Flameslickthethickcloudofsmokeas
itriseshigherandhigher.IgaspasIseethebodiesofneighbors,offriends.MamaandIrundownthe
streetssearchingforaplacethathasnotbeenaffectedbythefire.Wefindanoldautomobilethatis
awayfromanylifethreateningflames.Weclimbinandsettledowntotryandsleep.

Iwakeupthenextmorningtonosunlight.Thecityiscoatedinalayerofashandrubble.There
isnothingleft.Igetoutofthecarandseepeoplebustlingaroundthestreetssearchingforsurvivors.I
boltafteroneofthemandexplainwhatmybrotherlookslike.Hiseyesgrowwithconcern.

Aboymatchingthedescriptionyouprovidedwasfounddeceasedthismorninglovely.Imsosorry.

Icringeasthetruthhitsme.ItisonlymeandMamanow,noPapa,noElbort.Istepbackwards,
IdontwanttotellMamaforfearshewilllosethehopethathasgottenherthroughthepasthours.

Doyouknowwhattimeitis?

Hecheckshiswatchonhishandandshowsme.11:55am.Ihearthesirensagain.Apainhits
melikenoneother.IgetMamaandpullheroutofthecar.

Mama!Weneedtogo,now!

Shequicklygetsoutofthecaranddesperatelylooksforashelter.Ifollowherandseean
overhang.Ipointandwedashunderit.Iknowwearenotsafehere,wearenotprotected.Thereisonly
roomforone.Sheknowsthistoo.Ihughertightlyandwhisperthewords,Iloveyou,intoherear.
ThenIrunoutintotheopenstreet.

Thelastbombraid.Awomanstandsinthelonelystreet,standsoverachild.Achildwithoceanblue
eyesandperfectlyblondhair.Asthewomandropstoherknees,hergreenhatfalls,revealingthe
horrendousyellowflowerontheothersideofit.Shebendsdownandkissesthelostchildonher
foreheadandcovershereyes.Sheletsoutahowlingwailandthencollapsesasacrowdofpeoplecatch
herfromhittingherburntheadontheconcrete.Thentheytakeheraway,awayfromthebravelittlegirl
wholiesinthestreet.