26th October, 2023
I think
We got comfortable in this world
I thought
I saw the world settle into a beautiful place
Dangers far away, unreachable
Untouchable
I thought of it like a cliff hovering over deadly, thrashing waves on top of a deep, dangerous ocean
So we made a human chain
Everyone, hand in hand, holding tight
Whispering comfort and love in the ears of their neighbour
But suddenly
When it’s our turn to hold on
And it’s our turn to make it over to the other side
My dearest friend looks me in the eye
With sheer hatred and disgust
And mouths the word, “Jew”
My eyes widen and I say “No, please.”
I try to squeeze her hand, to stay, to survive
But
My dearest friend releases her grip and lets me fall
And as I’m falling
Descending
Plunging
Sinking
I look up at the human chain
At “humanity”
And all I see is who used to be my dearest friend
Crying at the other side
Safe and dry
surrounded by everyone else
And through her sobs I hear her say
“She hurt me. She squeezed my hand.”
Before I fully submerge
Everyone looks down at me, repulsed
And says
“You deserve it.”
