Rebecca (Becca) Alder was only ten years old when the war first started. She witnessed her parents slaughtered in front of her. Can she survive? Can she find a new life, and maybe even love? Mature.
*In the process of being revised and edited*
November 1943 Sicily was breathtaking, I was so blessed. A woman in her thirties took me into her home. I was fed all the time, and very good meals too. My bony ribs started not to show as much, I gained energy I should have. The woman I was staying with spoke English but was teaching me Italian, since that's what Sicily's main language was.
About a month later things started to change, I would do many chores. She would whip me if I did the slightest thing wrong. I do not know what changed in her, but my hope is yet again quickly fading. It is still a vast improvement compared to the horrors faced in the camps, and I do greatly appreciate it.
July 1944 The woman got married and now has a husband who is even worse than her. He came to the house only three times before they decided to wed! I could never do such a thing! They use me as their servant and maid, which is still better than my early childhood. She told me her name was Amelia; such a pretty name for a nasty woman. I tend to make myself scare when the man is around, he makes me quite uncomfortable. I love to read books in my spare time, I often sneak a novel from her bookcase at night. One day maybe I could be a writer, but what a silly thought. I entered her house hoping to have a much better life, and that's what I'm going to have. I plan to leave in early August, I need to move forward. I need to be brave in order to survive in this cruel world.
August 14th 1944 Last night I snuck out of the house while the unpleasant couple was asleep. I am now in hiding in the streets of Sicily. I make sure not to be spotted, I need to be careful. When everything is silent, I often think of the family I once had. Why was I alive instead of them? I know I am lucky to get this chance, and I am determined to get to a safe place.
I will have to beg for food, and choose the people I ask carefully. I need to get out of here, by winter for sure.
September 2nd As I was begging for food in an alley, a man named Edgar Cullen approached me. He claimed to be a wealthy trader from Paris. He told me he was going to adopt me. Edgar spoke of the horrors he had seen, and said a child like me shouldn't be out in the cold. I was shocked, but grateful. I did not want to bother him with any questions, so I left all of that alone. I couldn't be happier, and since Paris has been liberated by the Allies, we are going to love it there! Edgar was going to stay in Paris for awhile, so I would finally have some stability. I couldn't help but wonder if he had any dark intentions, but brushed the thoughts aside. The city of love; I can't wait.
September 18th We are settled into our beautiful fancy apartment, I am beyond grateful. Edgar said I can even go to school in January! I would finally have a proper education, something I have always dreamed about. The whole city just astonishes me with it's beauty. My bedroom is so stunning, it was fit for a princess. I went from sleeping on newspapers, to sleeping on silk bedsheets.
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A ravishing chandelier hangs above my incredibly comfortable bed. I even have my own makeup stand, even though I don't wear any. Edgar told me I would look pretty with some on, and gave me some to use. He also brought me clothes, I noticed they were quite formal, many dresses. As a gift in return I keep the house nice and tidy for Edgar. He has been so kind, he even takes me out for ice cream sometimes. Going from deathly conditions to upper-class is very strange I must say. I feel as though I am living in a whole new world, but I must admit I miss my old red jumper. I hate myself for thinking these things, I need to be only grateful.
Edgar is only in his early thirties, and he has a delightful girlfriend. She has curly dark brown hair just like me. We get along very well as she is in her early twenties. Her name is Emily, Edgar found her hiding in a building. She is Jewish like me. I stay in my room often to try and give them some private time. It's like I have a family again, though I miss my mother and father dearly.
The Germans continue to try and gain the land they stole back. The allies have been fighting been fighting very hard to give the countries back their land. I have never told a soul, but in the night I often have nightmares-of the flashbacks. Flashbacks of the pure panic and horror on my parent's faces as we were kidnapped from our home. I don't understand why my religion determines whether I live or die. We are humans just like anyone else, but we will not give up. It does truly scare me to think of what could happen, all of this could suddenly fade away.
October 15th 1944 My birthday has been amazing. I finally turned fourteen and couldn't be happier. Emily and Edgar got engaged a few days ago. I went with Edgar to pick out her ring, and he choose the most beautiful ring I had ever seen. Emily sure was a lucky gal. For my birthday they got me a three new books, and a breathtaking silk dress with cute little flowers making it all the more special. I was excited for them, but I wondered how this would change things for me. Paris was like a paradise.
But it wasn't over. It never would be really...
Every night I have terrible nightmares... terrible memories. You can't forget those... not even in time. Lots of people probably have them... especially children that lived through this. Like me. I wake up shaking, crying. I like my life right now; but still I could never forget everything. I hope the war ends soon, because I don't think I can take much more gore and violence. In a few years I hope to be in America, free and safe. I've heard many stories from other Jews that made it out. People talk about America with such amazement, and talk of the many freedoms they have. At least a few million Jews have died.. I am very lucky to make it out. Too many were slaughtered; slaughtered like pigs. The Germans were the real pigs!
May 1995 Adolf Hitler, leader of Nazi Germany, committed suicide a few days ago. Soon after Germany announced its surrender. I couldn't be more thrilled! I could finally take a breath, but the Japanese are still fighting hard, which scares me and others. America is winning against the Japs... but it can change at any time. My life has changed a lot in the last month, three months ago we learned Emily and Edgar were expecting a child. A child which is be born next month sometime, I put aside my worries and express my joy for them. They got married in Early December, right after the first snowfall. It was an amazing service, you could tell they really loved each other. They have been incredibly busy preparing for the babe, so busy they often forgot about me. We do not go out and do special things together anymore, I feel like I am being alienated from their family. It was their family; I understand the want to be alone with your spouse and baby. I would just be a burden. Will they just leave me like the others? I want to know... will it ever end?
