You smiled at me,
And greeted me with a gentle „Hallo.“
Before you took my frightened sister’s wrist,
„Und du bist Liesel, ja?“
You asked with your smile unwavering,
As a breeze tenderly caressed your short,
Dusty brown hair.

„J-Ja,“ she stuttered in an unsure reply.
Mutti taught us to never trust strangers,
But you,
You were a different sort of stranger.
You gave us clothes and candy,
When the others hit and ridiculed us.
Your smile was welcoming and inviting.

You nodded your head and pulled,
Carefully at her boney wrist.
I felt her grip tighten as best it could,
Around my own as her eyes danced my way.
„Hab kein Angst,“ I uttered in an attempt,
To rest her fears of you.

You let me follow though,
To ease her struggles and allow her peace of mind,
And I learned that day Mutti was right.
You should never trust a stranger,
Especially ones that give you candy and,
Friendly smiles like no one else does.

Because that day I heard her screams,
Whilst staring helplessly at that white wall,
Wondering to myself, „Warum?“
Meine Schwester, Meine Zwillingin.
And once the silence greeted my ears,
And screams gurgled before sputtering out,
I knew,
Oh I knew instantly,
She was gone and never again would she cling to my arm,
Fearing the men with their sleek black guns,
Wondering where they took Mutti and Vati.

And I knew that your grin was the grin of the devil,
When you exited that room,
Like you were elegantly dancing,
To a masterpiece by Beethoven or Bach.
And I knew then why you were called,
Der Engel des Todes.