Inseparable

Ava: Chapter One

Ava

Life had been good before the Nazis began their trek into Poland. I was a typical teenage girl with all A's in the Jewish private school I attended with my best friends, who also happened to be my cousins and a few other childhood friends. We all grew up together and shared so many fun times, but this past summer, I worked full-time at the hospital where my father was a surgeon. I worked with him in his clinic when I wasn't at the hospital. Most girls found anatomy gross, but I found it unique; it captivated me.  I read the books and magazines my father brought home. My father said I would finish medical school before I had completed high school.

Everything changed a week ago. I was helping my mother wash the dishes, and my uncle unexpectedly showed up at our home. I heard him whispering to my father, and they moved into my father's office and closed the door. I wasn't sure of their conversation, so I moved closer to the door and heard my uncle say, He never thought everything would honestly go this far; he then said he had an awful feeling, and he and my father must be prepared. I felt a wave of unease wash over me as I leaned against the door and tried to hear what my father said. His voice was soft, but I heard him tell my uncle he had spoken with Müller, who was still willing to help them. My uncle told my father that if  Müller were caught, he would be killed for being a traitor, as would his entire family.

I couldn't understand what they were talking about. Then my uncle said the Nazi troops were not just corralling anyone not of Arian blood; they were going after anyone who was not the same as them in every way. They are stuffing them into train cars without any explanation. My father made a desperate sigh and softly said, Do you think Müller knows his unique talents could be helpful? My uncle laughed a dry, deliberate chuckle and said we both know Müller; he is a good man from an extraordinary family.

I do not know how many days have passed, and everything is clouded in my mind. I cannot remember where I had been, but I vaguely remember my parents hurrying me to run for safety.

I am alone now; it's mid-winter. I have a jacket on. Is this my jacket? I hear trucks coming down the hill; then, I see a caravan of trucks begin to drive toward my location. I run to catch someone. I can see their flags on the trucks. They are British. I know this is my best chance for survival. Out of breath and frozen as one of the last trucks drives closer, I stand in the road. I will make them stop. The truck slams on its brakes, and a woman in a nurse's uniform jumps out and runs towards me.

I remember the English phrase my father told me to say to people if anything happened once the Germans invaded our cities.

"I am daughter of Physician of Poland. I have much experience with medicine. I helping, please."

The woman leads me to the truck.

"I'm Gladys, and this guy driving is Dr. Willard, and it's your lucky day, hon."

"Gladys, even if she understood English, she'd never understand that Texas slang you mutter, love."

I climb into the truck; I feel uncertain but know I have no other choice. The man, Willard, seems to have a reassuring presence, and the woman's warm smile reassures me that I will be safe. I glance out the window, watching the snow-covered landscape blur past, grateful for this chance at survival.

I must have fallen asleep at some point, and I woke screaming and crying with tears pouring down my face. I had dreamt about it earlier that day. My parents hugged and kissed me and told me to run, then gave the man in the tunnel a large amount of gold. He'd reassured them that there would be many people to care for me. My parents were soon pushed onto the train as I hid and watched.  I then recall someone screaming for me to run. After miles of running and eventually walking through tunnels, I ended up alone in the snow at the edge of town. I told myself to be brave, but my eyes betrayed me still.