Page Title

Elana Shoss
Emery/Weiner School
Houston, TX

                                                                Half My Heart

     It is a foggy morning in Manchester, England, and a mist hangs over the city. I hug my
little brother Roy close to my chest. Tears slowly slide down my rosy cheeks as I bend my
head down into his hair. Roy is only four years old, with his big all-seeing blue eyes, and his
raven black hair. He will be staying with my mother and father while I am being sent away.
Because we are on the brink of war, my school has decided to send all the children away to
a little village eight miles from home. Even though I’m only eleven I have to go. Children six
years or older have to leave. We have no choice. The orders are given. It is done. The
hardest part is saying goodbye. It is the hardest thing that I will ever have to do. I know that
this might be it. The last moment that I will ever see my family together. War changes
everything.

     My mother, Rose, suddenly appears at the doorway clutching her Star of David necklace.
Mum’s strong, tough, and wants me to be perfect at everything. But I can see through her
facade. She wants what’s best for me. She has bluish purple eyes and her hair is like the
color of black smoke that you see rising into the sky when there’s a fire.

     “ Rachel, it’s time to go,” she announces. I just nod stiffly and she leaves behind a
lingering scent of roses.
     I pick Roy up and set him on his feet. I stand on my knees, taking Roy’s plush, soft, little
hands in mine and look him straight in the eye.
     “Roy,” I say softly, “I’m going away for a little while.”
     “Where you going?” he questions.
     “I’m going to live somewhere else for a while so that I can stay safe.” I speak slowly,
carefully searching for words. I try to sound fearless, but my voice breaks. I can feel the tears
coming again as they well up in my eyes. My vision becomes foggy.
     “I come with you,” he is determined.
     “No, you can’t come.” I am not convincing.
     “Why? “
     “I need you to take care of mummy and daddy for me. Can you do that?”

     I don’t wait for his answer. I know that it would just be easier if I leave right now. I stand
up and feel Roy’s little arms wrapping around my ankles. He tugs and says, “Don’t leave”. I
smile a sad smile and unwrap his little arms. I bend over and ruffle his hair, messing it up,
and with that I walk down the hall and to the front door. I refuse to look back.

     I trudge to the big oak door and find my valise as my mother and father wait for me.
Mummy and daddy will both be staying with Roy. I take in a deep breath.

     “Well,” I say with all the courage I can, “I suppose this is it.”

     Daddy is a wonderful man. He always tries to brighten the mood no matter how difficult
things are. Once when our shop’s windows had been blown out he put a sign on the door
that said ‘More open than ever’. I try to keep it together for my family’s sake, but I just can’t. I
am crying. Daddy pulls me into a tight hug and pushes a lock of my hair behind my ear. He
leans down and whispers,

     “Whatever happens, you will always be my little girl. Remember that”.
I hug him tighter. Mommy hugs me and offers, “You’ll see us so soon that you won’t even
have the time to miss us”. Daddy pulls out of his pocket a small box that can fit into the palm
of my hand, and hands it to me with a smile that lights up my whole world. I take the box and
run my hand over the top. The background is pitch black and in the middle is a blue Star of
David. Around the star are little gold swirls and designs. He says, “Open it”. I lift the lid, gasp,
and almost drop the box at the sight of what is inside. A silver heart locket with a little Magen
David in the middle. I open the locket and see a picture of mummy, daddy, Roy, and me
before the war. There is an inscription ‘Always and Forever’. Mother fastens the locket
around my neck and Daddy tells me to go on and not look back. I do as I am told. I make it to
the bus with nothing except my valise, and half of my heart.