“The Last Glimpse of Hope” by Eloise 7A

Wee, woo, wee woo! These were the only sounds I could hear as I sprinted for my life, running as if it were the last day ever I was so terrified that I lost all sense of direction, and everything went black

Once again, I was trapped. How could they be so cruel? There was no hope, and now I'm back, miserable as can be Just because we are Jews doesn’t mean that we need to live in misery I had an amazing life in front of me, graduating from college, and getting into law school Living the life of my dreams, with my little sister, all of those dreams were fantasy now because of them, those ungrateful, corrupt countries, who say, “Oh, you’re a Jew, the prison you go ” I mocked them She was only 6 when she was brought to this ridiculous and stupid place.

Trapped, confined again, and crowded into a cramped cell with 30 other convicts I had to be here because of my idiotic attempt to defy fate. My family, my life, was gone, not a glimpse of hope was left. I sat there, always in my own corner, always minding my own business I had nothing else to do but stare out the cell bars at the endless number of corpses and dead bodies of those who dared to have freedom The unending nights of hearing combat shots, gunfire, and lifeless people falling to the ground. This was war. A war to fight for one to fight, a war for freedom Why couldn't they see, peace?

I still had a few torturous days ahead of the Second World War. These people were inhumane, treating us as a pathway to power That was all they desired The moniker of "most" powerful country in the world was plastered on each and every one of those heartless soldiers who abused their position. This was a never-ending cycle of war The inmates in the cells stayed motionless, never daring to speak or move They lay down, expecting the floor would swallow them up and they would simply vanish, but that was not possible in this reality The cell was filthy, with a rough concrete floor covered in vomit and faeces, we were all forced to stay here all day and all night without a glimpse of sunlight until it was time Being here was like entering the gateway to hell

"Den Mund halten! Noch ein Wort von dir, ich werde dafür sorgen, dass es dein letzter Tag war! ( “Shut up!

Another word from you again, I will make sure it was your last day ever! ) The towering, revolting guards had just captured another 100 of us, us Jews. The Jews begged, begged for forgiveness, of being alive, but to no avail. What was wrong with the Nazis? “Please, please I have children at home, please, let me go.” one of the Jews begged “Den Mund halten!” (Shut up!) they shouted again, but their patience was lost Bang! The gun was discharged, and the bullet traveled through the air and struck the prisoner in the chest with such force that the dead figure dropped to the ground, its chest gushing a bloody dark red liquid which flowed down to the floor The guards just laughed and shoved the other 100 prisoners into another cell Another life had been lost The soldiers took one glance at the now, lifeless body and chucked it into the other cell to let it rot, with the other prisoners After several days, the day had finally arrived The day of death

“Als nächstes beeilen Sie sich!” ( Next, hurry up! ) In chains, I was brought out heavily surrounded by guards. Finally, I could be free, but with the cost of everything, was I really ready, ready to succumb to what the Nazis wanted?. “Nächste!” (Next!) the soldier shouted again. I stood there motionless, darting my eyes around for escape pathways but none came, why was I so desperate for this “freedom”? It was my turn, my turn to finally be free I stood there in front of a whole crowd of Jews staring at me from their bar cells, looking at what was going to happen next. I just waited for death to take me away, but I felt a sudden urge to run. I glanced at the guard who was distracted by “His majesty” I wanted to run, but I stood still, my feet not moving an inch I was trying so hard to run but I couldn’t I closed my eyes and prayed I ran I ran despite the heavy chains pulling me back, I bolted as fast as I could.

Wee, wee, wee woo! These were the only sounds I could hear as I sprinted for my life, running as if it were the last day of my life. I was so terrified that I lost all sense of direction and everything went black. Who would notice if I was gone?