Authors: John Anthony Miller
London, England
November 26, 1946
Michael York continued turning pages of the photography book as customers milled around him, browsing, reading dust jackets, and conducting their shopping. Some stopped to look at the display, interested in the book, others purchased it, while some merely stared at it with a mild curiosity, reflecting on a time they would rather forget.
He thumbed through the pictures, coming towards the end. There were photographs of the handicapped children with Millie and Inga, and the orphans Samuel and Sarah. An entire page showed Erika Jaeger and Amanda, posing during their journey to Switzerland. And there was a photograph of Manfred Richter, at Joseph Goebbels’ party, the caption describing his murder.
He thought about those two days in November of 1943, their flight for freedom, now three years passed. He remembered Amanda, suggesting they cross the border into Switzerland at midnight and not wait until dawn, and Max telling him to forget Amanda and escape.
Then he reflected on life, the paths we take, the choices we make. Sometimes the pain that lingers, breaking our hearts and destroying our souls, comes not from what we did, but what we didn’t do, the actions we chose not to take. And then sometimes, when the world collapses around us, we find our way regardless, and somehow manage to overcome.
“Dad, are you almost ready to go?”
He smiled, caressing the hair of the teenage girl beside him. “Yes, Elizabeth. Whenever you are.”
A woman walked up to them, her belly swollen with child, a young boy holding her hand. She was petite, with dark hair and eyes, a smile consuming her face.
“Should we go?” asked Amanda Hamilton York. “We’re meeting Erika for lunch.”
York kissed her on the forehead. “Of course, darling.”
She smiled. “Little Michael is hungry,” she said, looking at the toddler.
They walked into the London street, tomorrow always brighter, yesterday starting to dim.
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