Daniel Pov Prisoner Of Night And Fog

Chapter 21

Part 3- In Desperate Defiance

One can try to re-create the world, to build up in its stead another world in which its most unbearable features are eliminated and replaced by others that are in conformity with one's wishes. But whoever, in desperate defiance, sets out upon this path to happiness will as a rule attain nothing. Reality is too strong for him. He becomes a madman.
~ Sigmund Freud
Civilization And Its Discontents, 1930

I took Gretchen to my apartment, it was a side street in the Isarvorstadt district. I noticed that Gretchen was looking around, not scared, more curious, or taking in the surroundings.
She looked to me, her eyes slightly panicked, I dared her to speak, she looked like she was wanting to turn around, but when she saw me, she sped up, although due to what her legs looked like, her legs were probably throbbing in pain. 

I speed up and led her to my apartment, it was a shabby four-floor apartment, my cousins and I lived on the fourth floor. Gretchen had looked around once we were in the lobby, she looked confused, and I guessed why, it's a common misconception that Jews are rich. I tried not to laugh "Just because I'm Jewish doesn't mean I'm rich," I said, trying to keep my amusement hidden.

Gretchen flushed and looked down, probably in embarrassment "Your home is very nice," she muttered, maybe compared to her home, it could be.
"No, it isn't," I said with a grin "It's a hole. But it's fine for me and my cousins," I sighed.
"You--you shouldn't have paid the doctor," she stuttered.
I smiled, "The fellow owed me a favour, so he wouldn't accept payment anyways. I got wind of some SA men planning to vandalise his office and warned him. When the SA showed up, they found the good doctor and twenty of his strongest Communist comrades waiting for them," I laughed at what I had been told "I'm told it was quite a street fight, but the man's office was unharmed, so he is grateful toward me," I said. I pointed towards a seat "Here, sit for a minute while I hunt my cousins down. Aaron! Ruth!" I called going down the corridor.

I found them in their rooms "Come," I said to them both. We went back into the parlour and saw that Gretchen was still standing. She looked out of place "These are my cousins, Ruth and Aaron Pearlman. They're students at the university," I said.
My cousins were about the same age as Gretchen and I, she was looking over their black hair and pale features. However, Ruth seemed absolutely mad, Aaron confused, shocked to see her "Aaron, Ruth, this is Fräulein Gretchen Mül--" I was cut off by Ruth's angry tone.
"I know who she is," she snapped, I noticed Gretchen stepped back "This is the Nazi you've told us about. What is she doing here?" she asked, clearly angry with me.
"She needs help-" I got cut off.
"A Nazi needs help from Jews? That's rich," she scoffed, she pushed past us and went to serve dinner "I don't know what silly sob story you've spun for my cousin, Fräulein, but I promise it won't work on me. You're not welcome here," she snapped at Gretchen. Didn't she see the injuries on Gretchen?
Gretchen looked hurt, but not much more than she already was "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause trouble for you, Daniel--" she said, turning to me before being cut off.
"Daniel," Ruth spun around "She calls you by your first name? Are you actually friends with her?" she snapped.

I looked at her "She isn't like the others, Ruth. Give her a chance." I augured.
Ruth tossed the dishtowel on the counter "Give the Nazi a chance when her kind is trying to exterminate all of us? I never would have taken you for a fool," she said angrily to me.

Gretchen seemed shocked at the outburst, "Ruth, can't you see she's been hurt?" Aaron asked, gesturing towards Gretchen slightly, as not to be rude.
"I don't care if she's dying. We know what Hitler is trying to do to us, and if you insist on sheltering her, I'm leaving" she said, I was almost certain she was serious.
"Ruth, she has nowhere to go." I tried to explained, I realised I could've embarrassed Gretchen, but I hoped she was ok.
Gretchen seemed hurt, she looked down "That's a lie if I've ever heard one!" Ruth cried "Haven't we heard her name bandied about by the Nazis at university often enough, or seen her about town on Hitler's arm? She's his darling golden girl. She must have dozens-- no, hundreds-- of Nazis eager to take her in, in the hopes of getting into Hitler's good graces." She scoffed, trying to make a point.