February 16th, 2012: English Blog #2 - A Letter to Gerda

1234 Addresswithheld St.

Huber Heights, OH 45424

February 16th, 2012

Dear Gerda,

     Remember when you were in Dulag? You know, Dulag: that transit camp you were sent to from Wadowitz. You were on your own with only a few friends and no parents to protect you. You were helpless in the clutches of the odious Nazi regime. Remember when you got that notice from Abek’s family that you were to be set free? If I were in your shoes, I would have left immediately. But what did you do? The absolute opposite. You rejected the offer and decided to stay in Dulag -- and remain in constant danger.

     Why would you turn down freedom that early in the war? What kind of a slap in the face is that? I can’t believe you’d choose to stay in that cesspool camp -- in the hands of those monsters -- and continue to live in constant danger, instead of in the warm arms of a family that loves you.

     Think about it. If you would have died in that camp, you’d just be another statistic out of the 12,000,000 that were slaughtered. I mean, would you rather take your chances and die in a camp, or take advantage of the chance to leave and stay safe? Personally, I’d choose to leave…
     I'm confused as to why you decided to stay. Did you decide to stay so that you could stay with your friend Ilse and be on her side? Did you think that Ilse deserved to have at least one person to depend on in that cesspool, and that you did as well? Did you think that if you were to die in that camp, God would catch you anyway? Or were you so afraid of how your future would be shaped if you were to marry Abek?

     However, as angry as I am with your decision, I’m really stunned that you’d choose to risk your life to be with another. What I mean is that when I’d read a book about a war or a genocide, I’d expect a main character to think only of getting themselves out of the situation alive and have an every-man-for-himself attitude. You were nothing like that, Gerda. You were willing to give up freedom so you wouldn’t have to abandon a friend in need. Ilse was so lucky to have a friend like you.

     I wish you the best of luck in your journey through this terrible time.

     Sincerely,

     Hannah