Marta still sitting on the couch was getting more anxious by the minute. She started to shake her foot back and forth as a way to keep her nerves from exploding within her. The unknown can be terrifying or exhilarating. In this moment, it felt more terrifying. She didn’t think Ezra and his parents would harm her, but maybe they would call the police? Then again, maybe not, since the police were under Hitler’s control, so the Jewish community probably has a very strained relationship with authority. But maybe they had like a vigilante? A group of people in their community that worked together to protect one another. Maybe they would come force her out of the house. That didn’t seem like a plausible explanation either. These people weren’t that cruel.

Hearing the door open behind her, Marta assumed it would Edith or Abe coming to tell her she should leave. She put their son in a dangerous situation and her being there would obviously only make things worse. But when Marta looked over her shoulder, she saw Ezra come out of the room. She noticed right away that he seemed to have calm down and was over his panic attack. That made Marta feel better. She would never forgive herself if what happened today somehow caused permanent mental damage. She watched as he came over, expecting him to join her on the couch, or yell at her. But then he sat on the ground, and she watched as his head rested on her legs. She let a tiny smile graced her lips. Well he doesn’t seem to totally hate her guts...yet. 

Why is he apologizing? He did nothing wrong. She should be begging for forgiveness right now. But she let him speak, listening as he went on about the phone. Marta knew she needed to call her parents soon. But for now, it could wait a little longer. What she was waiting for though she wasn’t exactly sure. Maybe just to be sure Ezra was ok? But she could see now that he was. Were they going to talk about what happened? Was Ezra going to tell her again that after today, she should never return? She didn’t want that to happen. Marta didn’t like to think that she wouldn’t see Ezra after today.

Feeling him take her hand, she gave it a gentle squeeze, just her way of letting him know she wasn’t going anywhere and she was here for him. She looked him in the eyes once more and smiled and said, “Marta.”

She heard him once again call her miss, and she figured it was time to turn herself from stranger to at least an acquaintance. But she realized he didn’t actually ask for her name, so her statement probably seemed odd and confusing.

“My name is Marta.” she said, just to clarify things. 

Not liking that Ezra was on the floor, Marta shifted and scooted herself onto the floor, sitting with her legs tucked under, facing Ezra, her hand still laced in his. Suddenly, Marta felt very shy. She fiddled with a button on the dress with her free hand and nibbled on her lip a little. Her pushy behavior from before seemed to melt away, and she wanted Ezra to tell her what to do next, whatever it may, but she prayed it wasn’t to exit his life completely.