Kyla and Aiden had finally got together, after months of beating around the bush, and were soon to be married. It seemed that all was right in the world and thus passed the year of 1943. It was an all around ok year for me.

Spring 1944

As we once again tuned in to London Radio splendid news came from the Russian front. There could no longer be any doubt that Germany would be defeated. It was only a matter of time; months or weeks, perhaps. Either way my family and I were pleased to hear the news. It was something we waited these long years to hear. It was a sign of hope now concreted into our hearts. We would reach peace in this ugly war. The trees were in bloom and it began to look like a year of so many others, with the festivities going on and not to mention my sisters soon to be wedding. My mother begged her to let it be held in the spring and although it wasn’t like Kyla to give into my mother without a fight, she did. In no time, I thought, she would be popping out a few kids and forever to be called by Aiden’s wife, the identity of her own self lost to the ignorant ways upon which society viewed women.

Although most of the people living in my town believed we would survive in this war and doubted Hitler’s resolve to exterminate us, I was still a little skeptical about the whole situation. Sure the Red Army was making advancing with strides but that still didn’t mean that we were in the clear to live our lives in utter bliss. There was still a possibility that something would go wrong and for this I prayed to God it did not. It was still possible to buy emigration certificates to Palestine so I asked my father to sell everything, to liquidate everything, and to leave. It was a bright afternoon when I approached him with my question. He was having a conversation with my mother, Christine, about all that was going on and I interrupted.
“Father, why not sell everything? They’re still giving emigration certificates to Palestine and it’s not too late to get one. We could start over. Pack up and leave.” I said to him, hope evident in my voice.