"What do you think I am doing here?", retorted the equally frightened young woman.
"I would say you're hiding."
"Duh! You're so smart to figure it out. Hey, I don't know who the hell you are, but you're infringing on my territory."
"Sorry, but this sanctuary belongs to God, not to you or me. And if I were you, I would show more respect for this holy place."
"And who in the hell are you to tell me what to do?" growled the young woman, raising her head and supporting her weight on her elbows. Her soiled curly hair hung partly over her face and shadows cast by a flickering oil lamp transformed her face to resemble a theatrical mask straight out of a Greek tragedy. Anna slid closer to her and asked in a low voice, "What is your name?"
The girl looked up, "Who wants to know?"
"Sorry, I'm Anna."
"Oh brother, another one."
"What do you mean?" asked Anna.
"You're Jewish too, aren't you?" She paused. "You're hiding like me."
"I beg your pardon! First of all, I am not
Jewish and second, I am not hiding!"
"It takes one to know one, Blondie! And
I am never wrong ... especially with a name like Anna. Come on!" She lashed at Anna, contorting her face.
"You didn't tell me your name," insisted Anna, lying next to the girl and touching her hair gently.
"Well, okay, my name is Sara."
"Good to meet you, Sara."
"I wish I could say the same," Sara replied with a smile. "Next thing you're going to ask me is 'What is a good Jewish girl like you doing in a place like this?'" She placed both palms of her hands under her chin. "I am from Thessaloniki. When the Germans overran the city, they took my parents. I don't know where they are." She struggled to keep back her tears. "I escaped to my boyfriend's house and to my surprise they took me in. With his family's help, I went to Athens and then here. Hopefully, the bastards won't make it this far. My boyfriend is in the army." Words drowned in her tears, "And I ... I don't know where he is."
"I'm sorry. You and I have a lot in common," said Anna, stroking her hair and looking at the crucifix above the holy table.
The teary girl continued in the same sad tone, "I want to get married someday and have children." She swallowed her tears. "But my parents, my parents ... You know that I will never do this to my children, never! If they want to marry a non-Jew, fine, as long as they love each other. Well, Tasos' parents weren't that excited either, but I know they liked me, and would have accepted me as long as I got married in the Orthodox Church." Shaking her head, she said, "Well, here I am, where is the groom?"