Survive

The outside world was unknown to her, but she could see a glimpse of it through the window in his room.

She could see trees and the sun, sometimes birds of different colors, and chimneys smoking during the winter time. Once in a while she could hear children laughing outside, but she never saw them. She longed to be part of their play, but she new it was to dangerous for her.

It was almost three years of hiding in this beautiful decorated room. Invisible for everyone. Her big bed with white and cream linen, the pillows shaped in heart form, the carpet in red and blue colors to make her happy, pictures of her family and friends on the walls, a golden framed mirror, as tall as she was. There was also a small but delicate bathroom, just for her. The only thing what was missing was a door. A door to leave this room. She didn't felt trapped, not at all. But she missed the sun on her face, the wind that ruffles her hair, the rain, the puddles, the snow. She knew, one day she will walk out of this room, her little apartment, and she will be free again. Free, to go where she wants to go. Free, to do what she wants to do. Free, to speak to whom she wants to speak. But for now, she had to be quiet, invisible.

The old man, who put her in this room, saved her life. Not for a single second he thought about his own life, when he grabbed her of the truck, pulled her down in his horse carriage and throw a blanked over her. She knew instinctive not to move or to make a noise. She could hear some people screaming and begging, some people yelling, but the noises were getting quieter and quieter until she couldn't hear them anymore.

The next thing she remembered was being taken into a house and the old man pulling the covers off her. He smiled and so did his wife, who was standing next to him. She looked in their eyes which were filled with love. Love for her. The old Lady stroked her hair, and than took her hand, and guarded her safely to the room she was in. They told her not to be scarred or worried. From now on, until she will reunited with her family, they will take care of her. She must be very quiet, but whatever she wants, she will get it.

She remembered every moment of her first step into this room, her room! Everything was ready for her. Her teddy-bear she loved so much, her doll-house she built with her father, her small but delicate book shelve with all her books, even her old rubber boots were standing on a shoe-rack. There was also a perfect table with a chair for studying at the other side of the room, and right next to her a beautiful bed with white and cream linen. Everything was taken care off.

The old Lady came to her room every day for 2 hours, helping her studying, playing games with her and teaching her how to knit. During this two hours, she was allowed to whisper with her. She wanted to know what is going on outside and where are her parents and her brother right now. The old Lady tried to answer these questions to the best of her conscience, but most of the time she couldn't. One day, when she was studying with the old Lady her husband came rushing in and told her to come down quickly. He put his finger over his lips to make sure, that the little girl understood, now was the time again to be very, very quite. Both rushed out of her room, straight into their living room, waiting for the "guests". She could see, this was not a pleasant visit from friends or neighbors. This was a police action visit.

The old couple stayed calm, drinking their tea and tried to answer all the questions they were asked. They never looked at the wall where she was hiding behind. Both looked very fragile and after 15 or 20 minutes the police-force left. She knew, this was not a one-time-visit. They will come back. And they did. But they never arrested that old couple.

Than, one day, both came to open the door wide for her and told her to come out. The old Lady took her hand again and took her outside into the garden. Now she could see with her own eyes, the trees, the birds and the chimneys from the other houses. The war was over. Most buildings around her were destroyed, but her sanctuary was still standing. A car came rocking down the street and stopping at the garden gate. A young man hopped out and asked the old couple for their names and also for her name. He showed them some documents and a maid from behind came out with her suitcase packed. She has never seen her before. The old couple kissed her good-bye, she got into the car, and off she was.

The young man drove her to the airport, got in the plane with her, and she left the country where she was hiding for 3 years.

She couldn't remember the faces of her parents or her brother, but when she saw them standing at the airport upon her arrival she knew she was home.

Many, many years later, when she finished her university she go a letter in the mail. An invitation to the house she survived in. When she got there, a lawyer was standing there, and told her, that this house with all the belongings was given to her as an inheritance from the previous owners.

She walked into the house again, up the stairs to the hidden door. She opened the door, and she was the little girl again. Everything had remained the way she had left it 20 years ago. No dust, no cobwebs, everything was fresh and clean. She walked to the wall so she could see a glimpse of the world outside through the window again. She was home again.