Free ?

The night was hot but quiet.

No bird or animal sound could be hear then.

But this made me anxious.

I held my leg irons, trying not to make any noise.

I was afraid that someone must had been heard the sound of my beating heart.

Ever step, every breath was a risk.

I started sweating again.

Still fettered i won't be able to run if somebody spot me now.

Only if i remained unnoticed i have a chance to succeed.

"Likely no one saw me when i left stealing the clothes that the farmer wife had possibly laid in the wire outside of the house.

The days passed.

I learnt to hide almost all of my traces when i crossed the rare forest paths where at times i spotted some human tracks.

I was like a fox that she had just outmanoeuvred her hunters.

I knew that i was smarter than them.

I always was.

I changed clothes in order to look like a girl from the nearby villages.

I hid my irons as well as i could and after eight days i believe that i am very close to the borders with the US.

I am free !! I thought.

At last !

Even the dry soil seemed softer under my soles now !

I cover each day more and more ground towards my freedom.

Even the nature seemed to share this joy with me !

One time i met a local woman in the road.

But i was clever enough to sit down quickly by the side of the road so she wouldn't sees the cuffs on my ankles hid in my dress.

I pretended that i was resting.

I spoke first asking for directions for somewhere to prevent her to get suspicious about what a girl was doing alone on the road.

She didn't seemed to understand my accent.

But soon she gave me an uncomfortable smile and continued her way pretending that she was in hurry.

I made it again.

Tuesday December 1947

Next morning i eventually release myself from the shackles !

The nail saved me this day .

Now nothing can stop me !

Late in the evening i allowed myself to fall to the ground in a corn field.

I was both happy and totally exhausted after having been running as fast as she could all afternoon.

It felt strange not to feel the heavy iron rings around my ankles anymore.

It was only a matter of minutes, before i fell fast asleep.

Big mistake."

"No! I must have overslept!

The sun is already high in the sky. And those sounds !

It s the dogs ! Oh no! "

They are coming directly in my direction !"

I have to run !"