I took a deep breath scared to open my eyes, my feet were buried in ashes from a city that once I called mine, but was burnt down by the Germans. My brother, Peter was standing next to me crying. I had to open my eyes quickly, for I only had I little bit of time. I opened one to see my whole town burnt down by fire. I wanted to be with my parents, but they, the Germans would find me. It was World War II, and our home in Russia was not safe. In just moments our whole lives changed. One day I was running in the park and the next my whole family was in bomb shelters. I had to go back to my parents, my oldest sister Alexandra was taken by the Germans, if I didn't go back now Peter and I would be the only ones left.We heard footsteps and yelling, coming from the streets. We heard people crying. The footsteps got closer. Peter pushed me into a store and hide me behind the counter. He put his hand around my mouth and I could taste the dirt and feel him shaking. We could hear the footsteps getting farther away, he then let go of me. I looked around the store, I knew this store something about it was familiar. I went to the cash register to see a picture of my family. This was my dads shop, he was a shoe maker. I took the picture off the wall, my brother pointed his head down. As I looked at the picture the smell of smoke left and I heard no more screams, until I realized it will never be like this again. It was the night time, I was scared and cold. Peter my brother tried to warm me up. The only problem was it wasn't only my body it was my heart. Peter refused to look at the picture.
"Tallya you need to be strong" Peter said as he laid on the floor. "We will stay here tonight"
I tucked the picture in the my boots. I rested my head on Peters lap and closed my eyes to dream of a better place.
I woke up to the sound of my brother coughing, we were hungry we haven't had food or water in 3 days.
" Tallya we need to go now" Peter whispered.
We walked out of my dads shop, I ran back in because I remembered my dad would keep green apples behind the black laces. I took two, one for me and one for Peter. I handed to him, he gave me a nod of appreciation. We continued to walk but slowly. We so German guards, I have never seen one fro so close before, my brother always hid me from them. I bit into the apple. It made a loud crunch that got the attention of a the German guard.
"What are you doing out side" he yelled from a far but he started coming forward. I looked at Peter, I've never seen him with such fear in. The German guard came up to my face. "Answer me now" he shouted
He slapped me and I fell to the floor.
"Please stop" Peter cried
The guard whipped his head towards Peter.
"She's mute, she can't talk" Peter said as he stepped in front of me. "She is my sister, she is mute, please don't hurt her"
