A short true story by Marja Rogers Binnendijk

Utrecht, December 1944.

‘Waarom moet ik weg?’ she asked.
‘Because we haven’t enough to eat. There’ll be food where you are going and you’ll become strong and you’ll be able to walk and run again.’
‘I don’t walk because I’m just tired,’ said the child. ‘Opa doesn’t want me to go.’

The mother held the child on her lap, feeling the small hands digging into her armpits for warmth. Iced flower patterns covered the windows. It was bitterly cold in the room and layers of clothing were not enough. The mother drew the blanket tighter around the two of them.