Page 37 of The Tattooist of Auschwitz

‘I thought you were dead. I thought I’d never see you again. I…’ she stammers.

He runs his hands along her face. ‘Did you not get my message from Baretski?’

‘No. I got no message from anyone.’

‘Shh, it’s OK,’ he says. ‘I’ve been at Auschwitz every day for weeks.’

‘I was so frightened.’

‘I know. But I’m here now. And I have something to say to you.’

‘What?’

‘First, let me kiss you.’

They kiss, clutching, pressing, passionately, before she pushes him away.

‘What do you want to say?’

‘My beautiful Gita. You’ve bewitched me. I’ve fallen in love with you.’

They feel like words he’s waited all his life to say.

‘Why? Why would you say that? Look at me. I’m ugly, I’m dirty. My hair… I used to have lovely hair.’

‘I love your hair the way it is now, and I will love it the way it will be in the future.’

‘But we have no future.’

Lale holds her firmly around her waist, forces her to meet his gaze.

‘Yes, we do. There will be a tomorrow for us. On the night I arrived here I made a vow to myself that I would survive this hell. We will survive and make a life where we are free to kiss when we want to, make love when we want to.’

Gita blushes and turns away. He gently moves her face back to him.

‘To make love wherever, whenever we want to. Do you hear me?’

Gita nods.

‘Do you believe me?’

‘I want to, but–’

‘No buts. Just believe me. Now, you’d better get back to your block before your kapo starts wondering.’

As Lale begins to walk off, Gita pulls him back and kisses him hard.

Breaking the kiss, he says, ‘Maybe I should stay away more often.’

‘Don’t you dare,’ she says, hitting him on the chest.

•

That night Ivana and Dana pepper Gita with questions, relieved to see their friend smiling again.

‘Did you tell him about your family?’ says Dana.

‘No.’