We Were Given A Miracle

Chapter 13

The next morning, when we woke up, we started to walk south. It was easier for Andre and Georges in their shirts and trousers, but the tight, itchy blouses and petticoats and skirts that Maman and I were almost impossible to walk in.

As we walked, we picked up various fruits and nuts to satisfy our hunger, and water from ponds along the way somehow managed to quench our thirst.

When nightfall came, we would bury ourselves underneath the blankets and go to sleep. Our days hiking to Switzerland were spent like this.

On the fifth day, I saw little houses, the Swiss ones from books I had read when I was younger. "Look," I called. "It's a village! We're in Switzerland! We're finally free!" I ran ahead.

"Gisele, hush," Maman told me, wide-eyed. "You never know how people can be.

When Georges and Andre caught up to us, Andre said, "We're in Switzerland now, and we're free, but we have nowhere to go. What now?"

"My sister, Adélaïde, moved to Bern a few years ago. She lives near the Parliament Building, on Amthausgasse street. We can take a train there from Basel."

"Aunt Adélaïde and Uncle Gian?! They're still in Bern?" Maman nodded. We kept walking, and even though we had taken our Star of David armbands on, Maman was still wary.

Once we had crossed the first village, they started to get bigger, with more people, until we had reached Basel. The city. There were big tall buildings and museums. There were no Nazis, and people here were living there lives normally. Switzerland was an "unaffected oasis".

"We need to find the train station," Andre said.

"Let's ask someone for directions," I said. "Like we used to do."

Maman sighed and shook her head. "OK."

I waved to a gentleman, "Excuse me sir, where is the train station." He looked at us funny, as if thinking, What are these French people doing here?

He pointed ahead and said, "Go to the crossroad of this street. Turn right then turn left at the intersection." I nodded my thanks and we followed his direction.

"It feels so good to be asking people for directions. It feels good to not be working to death all the time. It feels good to finally be treated like a person," Andre said out loud.

We got to the train station, and Maman pulled the money out of her petticoat. She paid for all of our tickets at the ticket booth. Everything had a purpose, I thought. Before the war we never would have imagined we would ever need the money under the mattress.

Once it arrived, we boarded our train. Nobody spat at us or said rude comments. I took a seat and enjoyed the view.

After an hour, we reached our destination. We got off the train. When I exited the train station I saw the Parliament building in front of me, with the words CURIA CONFOEDERATIONIS HELVETICAE engraved on it. The water from the fountains reflected the sunlight. It was all a breathtaking sight.

"Gisele," Maman called. "Come!" I drew my eyes away from the beautiful building and ran ahead to catch up with her. Then I saw Aunt Adélaïde, who was pruning her roses.

"Maman," I said, tugging on her sleeve. "It's Aunt-"

But I didn't get to finish my sentence. Maman ran and she hugged her younger sister whom she had not seen in years. They burst into tears. "Where's Louis and-oh." Aunt Adélaïde realized what had happened, but not wanting to spoil the moment she said, "Who's this," gesturing towards Georges and Andres.

They introduced themselves, and shook hands with Aunt Adélaïde and Uncle Gian, who had just come out.

After the greeting, Uncle Gian said, "Well, let's show you to your room. He led us up the stairs and into a bedroom. It had no bed, but it was enough. They were showing us respect, treating us with kindness, taking us in and helping us when we needed it most.

That night, when I went to sleep beside Maman on the blankets laid out for us, I cried into Maman's arms. But this time, they were tears of joy. "We're safe now," I whispered to her. "We're finally safe." She hugged me closer and I went to sleep, this time with no fear. After all we had lost and endured, we finally safe.