Escape!

Mala!

Our Belgian beauty

With her boyfriend

Edek Galinski!

Escape

was unimaginable.

We all cheered.

The Germans fumed.

Blocksperre for hours

as the Germans searched.

Locked in our Blocks

the girls and I prayed

hoped

wished

for Mala’s success.

We huddled together.

Voices hushed but euphoric.

If anyone can escape,

Bronia said,

it is Mala.

She can blend in,

Guta said.

And she speaks so many languages,

Giza said.

She is not a Muselmann, skin and bones,

Fania said,

hugging her own skinny frame.

She still has her hair.

I ran my hand over my shorn scalp.