Journey to Freedom
A Story of Tragedy, Courage and Love
by
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My stomach growled, reminding me that except for a bowl of watery soup I hadn’t eaten all day. But all that mattered was Paulie. Now the soldier began to shout,
“Lady, don’t you know we are still at war with you Germans? For the last time, get out.”
Wounded soldiers gathered in the hallway to watch the spectacle. Their sympathetic faces mirrored compassion for me. While I stood and wondered how I had the bad luck to come across such an unfriendly American, an authoritative voice called from the door of a classroom,
“What’s going on there?”
Looking over the rim of his reading glasses a tall, middle-aged officer scanned the scene. Dark observant eyes looked out from a sun-toughened face. He seemed to grasp the situation at once. Was he a doctor? What if he, too, told me to leave? My heart sank. Throughout the day I’d pinned all my hopes on finding medical attention for Paulie and was so close. But after a short exchange of words with the guard the doctor snapped his fingers and motioned me to follow him. Muttering words I didn’t understand, the guard stepped aside to let me pass. My feeling of relief was almost unbearable. I hurried behind the fast walking doctor. How could Paulie’s little body become so heavy? Perspiration formed on my forehead. What a sight I must be, unwashed, unkempt, in my dirty, bloodstained coat. Half way down the hallway that smelled of chalk and disinfectants, the doctor stopped and waited for me to catch up.
“I am sorry,” he said and looked at me with concern, “you must be exhausted. I should have carried your son.” He took Paulie from my arms.
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About the Book
Journey to Freedom won the Eudora Welty Memorial Award in the National League of American Pen Women's nationwide fiction writing contest.
Set in war-torn
Her search for a refuge takes her to rural
The turbulent last months of WWII take Juliet back to
About the Author
Ursula H. Meier has written a historical biography and a novel. Her articles appear in American and German newspapers and magazines. She is a member of the National League of American Pen Women. The US Congress awarded her the Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition and named her Outstanding Immigrant to the Ursula Meier’s European background, as well as her research work at the Hoover Institution,