Page 144 - Musings 2020

up. It’s a tight fit, and I scrape myself in multiple places as I struggle into the cold metal tube.
An enclosed, tight, cold metal tube. Blood roars in my ears as my claustrophobia kicks in,
and I lash out with my arms and legs, screaming for all I am worth. I am manic, moving in
arbitrary directions, and my shrieks drown out my husband’s pleas for me to calm down.

Suddenly, my hands found purchase on a cold mesh grill. Hope. I force my body to stop
thrashing around as I turn my attention towards the grill. With a bit of persuasion, it detaches
from the wall, and I take my first breath of the cold night air. Thankfully, the window is only
one storey above ground. I jump out and my bare feet are cushioned by lush green grass. I am
free. My husband drops onto the ground behind me silently and pulls me into a hug. I don’t
let him go until my sledgehammer heart slows down, and I no longer feel the need to yell
myself hoarse. “We got lucky. Quickly, quickly!” he pulls me up and we run for our lives.
Our prison is like a fortress, surrounded by menacing cobbled walls topped with razor-sharp
barbed wire. There seems to be no way out. Daniel is frantic, looking behind him every few
seconds for guards. “Honey, where are we going?” I ask him, panting. “Out,” is all my
husband tells me. We scramble around in the darkness searching for possible exits. Time
passes, and the distinct lack of security is beginning to grate on my nerves. “Aha! I found it.
Honey, we need to climb up this wall. It’s easier here,” Daniel says, pulling me forward. I
squint into the darkness as my husband pushes me towards the wall. Just as I begin to
scramble up, I hear a voice behind me.

“Who’s there?” the gruff voice calls out. Terror strikes my heart, and I let out an involuntary
squeak. “Hush!” my husband whispers into my ear. He clamps his hand around my
mouth. “Who are you? Show yourself!” the voice comes closer. A light shines directly into
my eyes and I scream and fall onto the ground, cowering. Daniel lets go of me. “Well, what
do we have here?” says the disembodied voice. The light is like a supernova, burning my
retinas and rendering me helpless. I helplessly scream for my husband but nobody answers. I
hear faint clinks as the guard unhooks something from his belt and my hands are bound with
cold steel. “What is little Angela doing here all alone at night?” he asks me. “Is she trying to
escape? She
knows better, doesn’t she?”

My eyes adjust to the light and I squint at him as fiercely as I can. “I’m not alone, you fool!
My husband escaped, and he’ll be back for me at any moment. He’ll kill all of you Nazis, and
you’ll all go to Hell, where you belong!” The man laughs condescendingly, as he knows
something I don’t. Dark fury fills my heart, giving me courage. I hear other guards running
towards us and calling out. “Nazis. Is that what Daniel told you this time? Oh, honey,” the
man coos at me indulgently.

“Shut up, you disgusting idiot! He’ll come to get me, no matter what,” I scream. I kick at
him, but he simply traps me in his arms in a practiced motion. A few other guards appear,
panting heavily. “Again?” one of them asks, glaring at me. All of them look annoyed.
Another guard runs up to us with a wheelchair in tow. The guard who caught me gives me a
mocking look. “I don’t see your husband around anywhere, girl. Do you?” “I told you, he
escaped.” “Is that so? Okay then, until he comes back to break you out, why don’t you come
with me?” He hauls me onto my feet and forces me into the wheelchair. I struggle against my
handcuffs but realize it’s futile. Clasping my hands together, I pray my husband is safe and
sound. I know he’ll come back for me, I know he’ll never abandon me.

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