You and your family lived in a small town called Sighet. Life was wonderful, with delicious food, flowing water, and everything seemed perfect. Then, one day, the Germans arrived and began evacuating everyone from your town into boxcars. As you arrived at a place with a strange, unpleasant smell, you realized you were in a camp. Fortunately, you and your father stayed together, although your mother and sister were separated. You had a special bond with your father, which brought you some comfort.

Months passed, each day feeling like an eternity, and you faced incredibly harsh conditions. Your father, once tough and strong, began to weaken. One day, as you helped him, he broke down in tears, something you had never seen before. You held him close, knowing you were his only source of strength.

Months later, you and others were on boxcars again, stopping in a small town to unload those who were no longer moving. The journey continued with no food or water, and you finally stopped at a ruined building. You came up with a daring plan: if you pretended to be “not alive”, you might have a chance to survive. The next day, you and your father played dead. When the officer checked, he was called away, and as soon as they left, you and your father cried tears of relief. You had escaped the camp, and for the first time in a long while, you felt a glimmer of hope.