Ki's blog: "Shoah"

Prologue

 October 1939

 The air was eerily cold, freezing my veins and icing my heart,  as I huddled closer to my parents and brother. My mood matching the arctic chill in the air as I peered anxiously out the basement window watching the sky fill with smoke as fire raged in the streets close by. It was oddly quiet, a contrast to the  massacre happening outside.

My father’s warm breath quietly whispered into our space, “They will be in our streets soon. I just hope since the lights are out the house will look abandoned and they won't search here.” I looked into his eyes and saw no reassurance;  they were filled with terror as he gazed at each one of us. We'd heard how thorough the Nazi’s were at finding hideaways, and  aware how this could be the last time we saw each other. Tears burned into my eyes as I latched onto my brother’s hand and looked at the people I loved most in my life; possibly for the last time.

In the silent terror of waiting, my mind escaped to loving memories of Leon and a burst of agony raged through me. Leon, who had wanted to stay and help us, ended up being dragged from our home only hours ago by his father. His passionate kiss leaving me embarrassed and the parents with a surprised look. My brother, Aaron, was the only one who knew about our secret affair and tried to calm me down after they had left. My parents were too numb and scared to question how our relationship had happened; perhaps they realized that it was inevitable seeing we knew the German family since birth. All I could do was pray that Leon was safely away, knowing I could not deal with the idea of them getting caught harboring or being sympathetic to Jews.

The atmosphere seemed to change before I heard anything and the feeling of death and trepidation bled deep into my being. Gunshots started ringing out making me jump as I heard them get closer, resonating brutally off the streets. It felt like we were just waiting for our death sentence to come knocking at our door. A shot went off down the street giving affirmation to my utter sickening dread. My body was shaking and I could hear the Nazi’s harsh German shouts , “Open the door!” followed by the sound of breaking wood and glass as they forced their way into people’s homes and victims screams stopping my heart with fright. The street was now alive with gunshots and screaming proof that the mass tyranny had officially commenced for Jews.

“Please Lord let them pass us by...” my mother whispered desperately in the darkness. I could feel the vibration of troops as they marched along the road. There was a reverberating knock at our door followed by the harsh yell of a Nazi soldier.

It was time…