Ashes of the Earth

I stare into the sky as I walk forward, my hands holding the back of my head. It is a beautiful shade of dark blue, and the stars are twinkling brightly. I shiver, for my jacket and shirt have been stripped off of me. I take the risk of glancing sideways at my wife and children. Rachel is staring straight ahead, trying not to cry, and holding the children tightly into her side. My eight year old son, David, is such a brave man. He sniffles but not a tear rolls down his cheek. My four year old daughter, Hillary, clings to her mothers leg, and I can hear her trying to muffle her cries.1

I take in a deep breath, and I see that we are coming to the end now. My feet are bleeding from walking across the ground barefoot, and I try to imagine soaking them in warm bathwater. We stop walking, so abruptly that I almost bumped into the person in front of me. I can smell his sweat and it smells like death. The whole place smells like death.2

They walk down the line, taking one glimpse. They are our deciders, our judges, our executioners. I can tell my family is starting to break down beside me as they come closer. Their uniforms are menacing to us. Their swastikas mock us. I slide my eyes shut as they stop in front of me. I try very hard not to pee in fear.3

"Left." I hear in thick german accented English. I swallow hard, taking a step forward and turning to watch them stand in front of my wife.4

"Right." I close my eyes, placing one hand over my face to hide my pain. Right. Right. The words are repeated and I look left. Middle-Aged strong men. I look right. Women, Children, Old and sick. My body begins to shake and as the officers proceed down the line, I run over to my beautiful wife. Grasping her face in my hands, I see her face is smudged with dirt and tears. I open my mouth but the words do not come out. I wrap my arms around her, holding her tightly and I know that I don't have much more time. I stare into those beautiful green eyes that I will never see again. I can feel her heart beating heavily as her breathing increases, and I know how hard she is trying not to heave and collapse. She is a strong woman.5

I look at my son and I pat him on the head. He gazes up at me, and I think he realizes what is going to happen next. He takes in a deep breath, staring apathetically ahead. I force a smile. He will always be my little soldier. My daughter throws a fit and I tell her to hush. I pick her up in my arms, cuddling her as close to my heart as possible. I never want to forget my daughter. She gazes at me, innocent and naive as to what is going on. She wants to go to the zoo. I manage a laugh, and kiss her on the cheek. 6

Suddenly they are being ripped away from me. My wife screams, lunging against the strong grip of the soldier carrying her towards the gas chambers. She reaches out for me, but I too am being forced to continue on. I can tell she has lost it now, she is screaming and sobbing. She is making too much of a scene and they shoot her in the head. Her body collapses in a pool of blood, and my children weep over her body. I too am crying uncontrollably now, my hand covering my mouth to contain my screams. My Rachel, my beautiful Rachel. Goodbye. That is all I can do, and I watch my children march towards their deaths. I love you, David. I love you, Hillary. Goodbye.7

I close my eyes, staring up at the sky. It has grown darker now, covered in the thick smoke of the Crematorium. My children, my wife..They are that smoke now. They are the ashes of the Earth. They are in God's hands now. 8