It's impossible to say how long it has been since I last had my eyes even partially open, but I do know that i've been separated from my parents for 3 weeks. I can hear the clock ticking in my head every second that passes. Every time I hear the clock ticking, I question if I am I going to be alive the next day. My opportunities were shattered the day my parents and I were taken out of my tiny apartment by those vile Natzis.The flashbacks that fill my head to the day I was separated from my parents, the day that I don't know when or if i'll see my parents again. It was also the day that I was no longer identified as Rachel, but by a series of numbers that's slowly becoming my name.
This ain't the same compact room I've always fell asleep in, that's for sure. If this were my room, there would be a dim light from the streetlight outside my window shining through the gaps of my teal drapes and I wouldn't be this terrified because I know my parents would protect me.
But there's none of that. It's pitch black.
My heartbeat increases and my chest tightens. I must be dreaming because life back home in Poland wouldn't be like this with these demons. I know i'll wake up in the morning to the sound of my mother's singing while she's making the awful food combination that she calls breakfast. I hope this is just a bad dream. Please let it be a nightmare. I hold back the tears.
A unfamiliar woman's sob broke that delusion. The sharp squeak of a door follows. The prayers and the sobs of terror tells me i'm not the only victim of this insane nightmare.
Unlike me, however, everyone else wasted no time making their next move.
"Oh my God! Oh my God!" Some person screamed in terror that made me realize that this isn't a nightmare and it's happening in real life to me and all of these strangers that I've known for a few short weeks.
The doors open and a Natzi guard come in. This is it. My final moments. I hope my parents know how much I loved them.I think to myself."Hello. I found a way to get out but we have to leave now!" He whispers as we all get out.
I hope this aint one of his tricks to kill us.
"Run, that's the safest way out!" He shouts. That's when I knew this wasn't a trick.
I ran as fast as my short 17 year old legs could run until the male guard stops me and gestures everyone else to flee to safety.
"I never told you my name." The guard tells me.
" I didn't ask you." I exclaim frustrated.
"But I want you to remember it."
"Why?" I knew why, but I want it confirmed from his mouth.
"14427, I hate to say this to you but, both of your parents died in a gas chamber. But good news, the only reason i'm saving your room is because your room was going to be next. Listen to me, you're better off in America. Listen, you won't be an orphan and you'll live a free life where you can be anything you want."
I can't wrap my head around this. First my parents die and now I have to go to America alone. I have my worst breakdown since my grandfather died on the icy ground.
"Don't cry. I'll come to America with you if you want."
"Okay." I calm down as he picks me back up. "What is your name anyway?"
"My name is Fred." He says while trying to scurry outside this place watching everywhere just in case he would be seen sneaking me, a "unimportant" Jewish girl out. "What's your real name, if you remember it?"
"My name is Rachel."
"Beautiful name, at least I don't have to call you by your number now."
"Thanks." I try not to blush.
He gestures to more people to get out a define way. As we were about to leave this unknown place that killed my parents, we see another guard pointing his gun at Fred and I. The other guard comes a few feet closer with the gun pointing at us and saying, "What did I tell you about sneaking these insane people out?"
Fred sighs with fear, "I'll get shot till I get killed."
I impulsively stood in front of Fred right when the first bullet was shot. I kept getting shot until I collapsed and hear, "you're next." Then I slowly drifted away knowing Fred and I, mostly Fred tried to save the other people.
