Showers

An SS noncommissioned officer came up to us, and met us with a truncheon in his hand. He gave the order, “Men to the left, Women to the right!” That was the last time I saw my son, Elie Wiesel. He gazed back at me for a while. My wonderful son, I loved him so much. Then I looked at my husband, but was distracted, as Tzipora grabbed my hand. I looked and her and stroked her hair. I tried to comfort her to the best of my ability. However, I doubted whether I would be capable of protecting her. I hoped that maybe one day, I could see my husband, and son again, but, I doubt that would ever be. I made sure I never lost sight of my daughters, I don’t want to lose them too.

We were surrounded by SS men. We were clueless about what we should do. I remember Elie asked if we should move the family to Palestine. I didn’t think that it was necessary but it is better than standing here in the bitter cold. “We’re all gonna die,” said the woman standing behind us. I told her we weren’t, that we can survive. She continued to persist in saying that we were being sent to our deaths. She said, “ The men have a better chance of surviving. The don’t need us for anything. I heard that they are going to send us to the showers. However, instead of water they use poison. They will most certainly kill us.”

I shuttered at this thought. Why would they, how could they? This is the middle of the 20th century, people can’t really do this can they? I looked around, and my questions were answered. A young woman in front of us, was with her daughter. She couldn’t believe the words, they pricked her ears like little daggers. Then she said to me, “ My husband is a doctor, so maybe I can leave. I mean they do need doctors, right?”

She did talk to the guard, and she was excused from her fatal destiny. When we got to the showers, we had to remove all our clothing, and Tzipora looked at me. Her eyes were wide with fear. I told her that it would be all right, and to stay close to me. Then we began to take our “showers”.