"Hello?" I asked, pounding on the door.
I assuredly arrived at Ari's home, and it was, as I suspected, exactly twenty five miles away from my house.
There was no answer, I attempted to peek in through the windows, but they were so loathsome that I couldn't even look inside. I check the letter again, making sure I was at the right address. The address looked right, maybe nobody's home right now. I decided to wait on the front porch of the small shambles, of what seems to be left of a house. It feels like hours pass before someone finally arrives. Right when I was about to doze off, I heard a males voice call my name.
"Miriam, is that you? Miriam wake up, and what are you doing here?" I open my eyes, slowly and cautiously. The bright rays from the sunlight burns my eyes, but I keep them open anyway.
"Ari?" I say attempting to stand up without falling over. We observe one another for what seems like a century, until I finally answer Ari's question,"I had to get away from my parents, and I missed you so much, I had to come down here and see you. I found your address from all of those letters you sent me. I know this is unexpected, and I'm sorry for that, but I just needed to see you."
He stares at me blankly, acting like he's never even seen me before,"Miriam you can't be here." A sense of anger rising in his voice.
I grit my teeth, in attempt to keep me from cursing as loud as can be,"I came here because I miss you, and because I can help you too."
"Miriam, I love you for doing that, but this town isn't safe, and you need to head back home as soon as possible." After saying this, Ari looks directly at my Star of David pin, in which was sewn to my sweater.
Anger, disappointment, and frustration was drifting throughout my body. I felt betrayed and as if Ari no longer felt loyal about our friendship. I turn away, in attempt to hide my face from the tears that are soon to be streaking my face. How come Ari doesn't want me here? And how come his house is so disgusting? If I were living there the house would be kept immaculate at all times.
"Miriam, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you, it's just that most of Hitler and his Nazi military are located in this part of Europe, and I don't want anything to happen to you." He looks anxious and hesitant.
I turn around, so I'm facing him,"Ari that's really sweet, but you don't have to protect me, I can take care of myself." The sky was beginning to turn dark grey and small droplets of water pellets were beginning to fall.
"I know..... but what if I want too."
My heart was beating fast and I began to debate whether or not Ari liked me. Could he? Psh no, he can't were best friends, that can not occur. The next thing I know I'm giving Ari the most dumbfounded answer of all time,"Well maybe I'll let you." I say smiling at the ground.
Ari takes notice of my blushing and asks,"Miriam maybe you should come inside." There's a long pause between us, and within this pause the soft rain drops turn into a pour.
"Okay." I reply.
When I walk inside Ari's house I notice that there is debri everywhere. He sees the nauseous look on my face and says,"Some Gestapo (German police) stopped by while I was at work, and so called fixed this place up." He turns his head away, embarrassed of the mess.
"Ari, it's alright I can help you." I take a look around and notice how nasty this place really is. But then I realize that the house is silent,"Ari? Where's your grandmother?"
He directly at me and says,"When the Gestapo were fixing my house, they took away my grandmother." He looks tired, no exhausted, like he hasn't slept in days,"I was at work when they took her. I tried looking for her, and right when I was about to give up hope, my neighbors told me that the Nazis marched through town, and evacuated all of the elderly to a labor camp." His voice is cracking, and before I know it I quickly embrace him in my arms,"I was supposed to protect her, and make her better, and now she's gone." I feel my shirt beginning to turn wet from Ari's tears, and then I say,"Ari its not your fault, you did the best you could."
"That's why I can't let anything happen to you." Now he's looking deep into my eyes and the rain is pouring down harder and harder.
"I know." I say, "And that's why I love you."
