In the Midst of War

Hiding in Plain Sight

The General--I mean Vladek--hid us in plain sight. We were more careful now about making eye-contact with Nazi officers. To be right under their noses without them knowing was just a risk in itself. If they found out who we were, we were putting Vladek in danger as well. The three of us could be shot on the spot--or worse, the concentration camps--for defying the law.

So many laws were being broken by the three of us, I felt like a dead man walking. If we were in need of supplies, Vladek would accompany us if need be. I enjoyed his company very much; almost too much it seemed like sometimes. I feared I was falling in love with him. And in all truth, I was falling for him.

Emily scolded me for having those feelings. Her first reason was because of his status as a Nazi General; her second was because he was quite older than me; her third, he was a Christian. A girl of nineteen shouldn't be interested in a man of twenty-four. She should be interested in a man of her own age and look forward to chaperoned dates with my sister and the boy.

But every moment I spent with him, it felt like my heart was on air; and yet it also felt like it was sinking. I knew we couldn't be together; it was illegal and Vladek could have gotten in so much trouble for it. I would never want that for Vladek; he did nothing to deserve it. Thankfully, he didn't feel the same way about me. He wouldn't get severely punished and I'd take all the punishment for him.

Anyways, let me continue on. It was a frosty March 1944 day when I had asked Vladek to accompany me to the market. We were low on food and he hadn't been home lately, so I took the use of his day off and asked him to go shopping with me. The two of us walked side by side on the streets of Berlin, the two of us the wisest of all the people on the street. He would glance my way every so often, checking to see if I was alright. My heart was permanently lodged in my throat from that day on.

He escorted me to the street market first, checking if any of the local people had anything to sell. We bought a few loaves of bread and a few vegetables. I didn't look at any of the Nazis eyes when they stopped and chatted with Vladek. Moments passed by as they chatted, Vladek easily distracting him from me. It worked for a while before I looked at the Nazis eyes. The Nazi looked into mine, a hint of recognition flickered in his eyes.

My insides seized with fear, did he work at the Ghettos? Or was he the Nazi that thought he recognized me. I reached over to Vladek's free hand and squeezed his fingers. Vladek Looked at me and said; "Miss Muller, is something wrong?" I swallowed tightly and nodded, looking only at Vladek. "What is it?"

"We need to go home, sir." I murmured. "I left a something in the oven and no one is home." He looked at me with a puzzled look. I shifted my eyes to the officer on his left, trying to keep a calm look on my face. He nodded only the slightest bit before turning back to the men in front of him.

"I am so sorry, gentlemen. Miss Muller and I must leave so abruptly." He said, taking my arm and pulled me away from the Nazis. I clung to his arm until we were a safe distance away. He looked at me, his hands firmly on my shoulders as he turned me around. "Elyza," he murmured, "Did he recognize you?" I nodded numbly, grasping his hands tightly. He pried my hands off of his and wrapped his arms around me.

"You're safe, Elyza. I won't let him take you away." He murmured to me. I looked up at him, my hands resting on his upper arms. I could feel his heart against my chest; it was hammering against his rib cage. Was he nervous about the Nazi officer; or was because a Jewess was in his arms.

I looked at Vladek, taking a few moments to breathe before whispering; "Do you still think of me as a Jewess?" He looked at me, a bewildered look in his eyes. He should have scolded me for saying that in public, where everyone could hear me and incriminate us both. Instead he brushed his fingers against my cheek and said,

"Why would you say that?"

My throat felt like there was something blocking air from my lungs. I took a raged breath and looked at his chest as I spoke; "Because your heart is practically slamming against your ribs." He pulled me closer, stroking my cheek with the back of his hand. This was abnormal for our time and society, doing this was against the norm. To be touching me like this in public, it would make my grandmothers roll over in their graves.

And a Jewess falling for a Christian man was even worse. Emily could disown me, or I couldn't be buried with my sister. I backed out of his arms quickly, looking at his eyes. "I'd like to go home, please." I said, heading towards the apartment. He followed after me, not saying a word the entirety of the walk.