Open your eyes and see what you can with them before they close forever BY HELENA TANG , YEAR 7, 2021 So little time left. Storm clouds gathered all around her like a pack of wolves surrounding their prey. The threat of thunder echoed through the night air, as streaks of silvery lightning illuminated the darkness. The storm was far away, for now, but it still filled her heart with fear. “Nera.” She heard it. It was barely a whisper, but she turned
straight in the eyes. “No.” it was all she said. Noah sighed in frustration and whispered again, this time she could see him trying to control his temper, “Listen here, they have guns they can shoot us, if we both run, we both will die! If they catch me, I could save you time! For God’s sake, run!”
around and saw her brother Noah looking at her, pale
Before Nera could even protest, he ran towards the Nazis.
faced. “We need to go.” He spoke in a rush, putting his
“No!” she shrieked, but somehow, she couldn’t move.
hand on his forehead as if it hurt, “The storm will come,
“Move, you idiot! Move and help him!” she thought angrily
and they will find us. Besides, they could tell that we are
to herself.
Jews.” He glared at the azure darkness engraved onto his arm – tattoos. Nera winced at the reminder of being Jewish and nodded without saying anything, after all, there was nothing to say.
The Nazis looked surprised at the bravery of Noah; perhaps they had never seen anyone so brave running towards them. Under a different circumstance, Nera would’ve been proud, she would’ve smiled and felt
Suddenly, a loud bang pierced in the air. Nera turned
grateful that he was her brother. But things have changed,
around immediately and widened her eyes as two
and right now she could do nothing. Tears were already
silhouettes grew bigger and bigger – Nazis. “Stop right
threatening to spill down her cheeks. She stared at Noah
there!” one of them barked loudly. Noah grabbed Nera’s
and saw him look back one last time, and the look on
hand and began to run. Terror stabbed Nera hard in the
his face almost broke her heart. There was no fear, only
chest and panic flared in her eyes. The thought of that
pure sadness; that he was sorry that this had to happen,
wretched concentration camp began to regrow in her
but there was also love. His hazel eyes were so kind, it
mind as the Nazis came closer and clenched her jaw.
was like the radiated sun with inner gold, they were the
Paris was supposedly a beautiful place, the city of love it is
softest brown infused with green, as if he held the new
named, but there was not much love there for her. She left
spring growth inside. There was something in his eyes that
her ill mother all alone just for a slim chance of survival.
brought Nera home, it reminded her of the good old days
Her face flushed red of guilt and anger, contemplating
when she was little.
whether she could take it anymore.
There was so much to say, but Nera knew there wasn’t
Panting, Nera tried her best to keep up with Noah’s pace.
time. She could not believe that the hardest thing she
Gut-wrenching, heart pumping— after several thrusts
would ever do was to do nothing at all. Tears shimmered
forward her legs became tired. But she knew she mustn’t
in her eyes, and with one last look, she turned and started
stop. Bang! The Nazis continued to chase them and shot
running, without any thoughts of where she was running.
in the air. “Stop or I’ll shoot!” Nera wasn’t planning to stop,
She wiped her tears and bit her lip hard, trying not to burst
but Noah suddenly stopped running and turned around.
into tears while running. Nera’s shoes pounded heavily
“What are you doing!” Nera hissed. “Go!” he whispered urgently in a hard tone, “I’ll save time, you run while I let them catch me. You can escape!” Nera’s eyes welled up with tears. How could he ask her something like this? Just to abandon him like they were strangers?
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She shook her head stubbornly and looked at Noah
across the ground causing mud to splash up her leg. She was going to climb up to a tree but her actions were stopped when a loud bang echoed. Nera turned around as quickly as a cheetah, and saw something that almost killed her. It was Noah, and the Nazis were nowhere to be seen.
Pymble Ladies’ College
