A girl and her camera

Chapter fifteen

"So," Hanna began their conversation, "How are things going between you and Sam?"

The two girls were, once again, in the editing room. Together, they were finalizing the final edit for the latest edition of the truth. This edition's theme: 'What does Churchill have to say about it?'. For this article, they went off Churchill's latest speech on the BBC, titled 'The end of the beginning'. Of course the BBC was a banned radio station to just about everybody; but that didn't stop even Hanna and her father from tuning in to every broad-cast.

"I, um..." Martha turned scarlet at the thought of Samuel. She hadn't yet, told Hanna, or anybody else that she knew she was falling in love. How could she? It was hard to believe that she herself, was falling in love with her best friend. But to admit it to somebody else? Martha wasn't ready for that. And besides, how did Martha even know that Samuel had the same feelings?

"They're fine," She finally answered, her eyes focused rather intently on the page she was working on. "Nothing too new."

"Honestly Martha, you're so lucky your life is so interesting." Hanna commented, "Although I can't complain about things between Bart and me."

It was still so strange to Martha. Hanna, turning all mush-minded and wistful over a boy. The way Martha had known Hanna over the years, she'd thought that boys and relationships were the last thing on Hanna's mind. But then, Martha realised that she hadn't really known her friend at all. She didn't know how much Hanna suffered from the lack of love from her family, until Eve's physical abuse had pushed Hanna over the edge. And now, Martha could see why Hanna was falling fast. Her thirst for love, and the way she was so taken with the handsome, bashful Bart.

"I can see why," Martha said, with a smile. "He really does treat you like a lady. And he fell for your brains, as well as your beauty."

Hmm, Hanna thought. He really did fall for her mind, as well as her looks. Although on that part, Hanna still struggled to grasp the idea that she was pretty. But knowing that...it made Hanna happy. Knowing that she had a relationship so special and intimate; unlike Eve's escapades with various, young men. She had no emotional connection with those boys; no real understanding. What Hanna and Bart had was all that, and much more.

"You know Martha, if I didn't have you and Bart, I would've left Warsaw ages ago." Hanna said, rather unexpectedly to Martha. "Papa was nice enough to me, but Eve and mother? I know they don't want me there. I'm the reason mama can't have any more children; let alone the son she's always wanted. And Eve? As far as she's concerned, I ruined her life the day I was born. If it weren't for you and Bart being my friends, liking me when everyone else avoided me...I would've left this place the first chance I got, and never come back."

Martha looked at her friend with a mixture of sympathy, and pride. While she felt sorry for Hanna, suffering in silence, she also felt extremely proud of her friend for the way she carried on. She didn't let her family tear her down; she just remained standing, as strong-willed as she always was. And it was people like her; people who lived through those kind of circumstances, who became loved, admired, and idolized later in their lives.

"I'm glad you didn't." Martha told her, "Honestly, it may not look like it sometimes, but you've kept me afloat too. After Michael left, and with mama not talking to me...I don't know what I would've done, without you and Sam by my side."

"Speaking of Sam," Hanna was keen to change the subject. Only out of sheer curiousity."I've been getting questions about his interview for the truth. Most of them want to know if he (Sam) knows anything about the Jews in other countries. Like Holland, for instance."

Martha honestly, had no idea. Whenever she was with Samuel these days, all they did was kiss, hold each other, and talk about themselves. Martha had never brought it upon herself to ask him anything more about the suffering of the Jews; that would've added to the guilt they already felt in their affair.