ATHOTS Chapter Six

"Rachel?" Rishona turned watery eyes to her big sister's face and before either could speak another word, she flew at her, almost knocking her off her feet with a heartbroken embrace. "Please, do not leave us!"

"Choneni Elohim..." Rachel gasped out. "How many more partings must I take? Isaac..." her voice was choked with tears.

She did not know how to explain... how with the baby coming, the danger was so much more increased... how they must go, for the safety of all of them. Solingen was too close to the cities, too occupied by the Nazis... and the baby would cry and give them all away. No... they must go... she and Isaac... and let the baby come in a place far away from here.

If only it was possible to send the girls away and out of Germany... but the underground that had once shipped so many children to safety barely was able to work anymore. The risk was so, so great. Better to leave them hidden where they were and hope... pray... for the best.

Isaac blinked back tears of his own. As they stood before the door, prepared to leave again, he reached out to the girls,. He placed his right hand on Rishona's head, his left on Rebekah's... and repeated the age-old blessing as it had been given to him.

"Y'varechecha Adonai v'yish'm'recha...

Ya-er Adonai panav eilecha vichuneka...

Yisa Adonai panav eilecha v'yaseim l'cha shalom."

They slipped from the door and Rachel felt a knife-twist of pain in her heart as Shonie called after her.

"Rachel... Rachel... do not leave me!"

Goodbye, Shonie, little sister, the Lord bless thee and keep thee...  

She glanced back over her shoulder, saw Rebekah gathering the little girl close. The older girl stared after Rachel and Isaac with dry eyes somehow, in spite of the anguish in her heart... and the younger girl buried her face against her sister's dress and sobbed.

Goodbye, Bekah, dear sister, take care of her for me... The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee...  

The girls were pulled back into the house, the door closed with an air of finality that made Rachel's heart sink to her shoes. Isaac gripped her hand and when she looked up at him, his eyes said things that his lips could not. And she felt comforted in his love and his care... and God was with them, was He not? He had promised He always would be...

One last time, Rachel looked back... and saw nothing but a house nearly swallowed up in the dark shadows of the night... and one tiny candlestick flickering on the windowsill...

Goodbye, dear little sisters, my precious little friends... The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace... May we meet when the sun shines again...

The road stretched long before them... and the sky ahead was black with uncertainty. There was no peace left anymore in the world. Rachel squeezed Isaac's hand tighter. 

Abba Father...