Prisoner B-1941

The Hope

They order some of us to carry the bodies that died during the work. That sign lied, work won’t set you free here, and it will make you die in the end. How could they do this to us and then to get us to carry the unfortunate ones, how can they do that? To keep our spirits up, we sing on our way back to the barracks. I smile at Anne and Rebekka; at least I still have them! Thinking about that, makes me think what happened to Mother, Father, Tomas and Hiram. Oh, how I hope they are safe!

When we reach the barracks, we are told to line up in rows of ten again to do the roll call. To my sadness, the person who stood next to me just this morning died while working and I am told to hold her up in the line beside me. This is awful! They should at least make graves for the people who die to let them rest in piece instead of getting people to move them about everywhere! My arms and legs which are so tired have to hold me up and the girl who sadly died. By the time we finish it is dark and everyone is so hungry and painfully exhausted.

Rebekka and Anne come up to me so we can walk together to get our food. Exactly what we had yesterday, ‘soup’, with absolutely nothing in it.

When we get back to our barracks I tell Rebekka and Anne that Eadmund wants to help us and that he hates what is going on here too but he has to follow orders. Also I tell her that he would be coming tonight again but earlier he as he knew I would be tired and I am.

I lie in bed again beside Rebekka and Anne to wait for Eadmund to come. Not so long after we were told to be in the barracks he comes and once again I am intrigued by him.

“I brought you and your sisters some food.” he whispers so as not to wake anyone.

“You can have it in the morning or you can wake them up and have it now, it is up to you!”

“Eadmund, I am so exhausted and I am sure my sisters are too, if you have some coffee though, we will have it now.”

“Just my luck I brought some then!”

I walk over to where Anne and Rebekka are sleeping, quietly whisper,

“Anne, Rebekka wake up! Eadmund has brought us some food and coffee!”

They instantly get up, like they never were asleep. Rushing towards Eadmund, he takes out a steaming can of coffee for us to share. We take turns gulping it down. When we are finished, he gives us some proper meat with cheese. It tastes so good and it is so nice to eat solid food again!

Rebekka and Anne go back to sleep so I can say goodnight to Eadmund.

The days, weeks, months go by with me and my sisters feeling weaker and weaker by the day, with the only thing keeping us alive is the food we get from Eadmund every night. More people catch lice everyday and I fear that we may get it too! So many people get sick. Every day it seemed that there were less people lining up for role call, it was even heard that people were being taken somewhere but no one knew what happened to them. Oh, how I hope we can get through this terrible war, so me and Eadmund can properly be together without being worried we will get found out!