The professor captured Eloise’s wildly gesturing hands and stilled them in his. “I know you’re well aware of what happened to your parents —”

“They died while helping the Resistance. I survived. And I’ve been dying every day since then. The doctors said when the bad memories come, I should replace them with different thoughts. Positive thoughts. And positive actions. Working for the newspaper will save my life —I’m certain of it.”

“And if you’re arrested? Imprisoned? Eloise, I couldn’t bear it.”

“It would be no worse than the prison that my own mind has kept me in.”

The professor turned to Ans, his expression pleading. “Ans, what do you think? Should Eloise do this? Is this wise? The Nazis will see this newspaper as treasonous. Anyone caught working for it will be imprisoned —or worse.”

Ans chose her words carefully. “I’m not sure I’m qualified to give an opinion. But I’m also disgusted by what the Nazis are doing. I would like to work for the Resistance too. If Eloise decides to work for them, I will help her.”

“This isn’t what you signed on for, Ans,” he said. “You need to talk with your family first. They may object to you putting yourself in danger.”

“I don’t need to talk to them. I already know they’ll agree. They plan to fight back too. My grandfather said that everyone needs to make a conscious choice, whether they’re going to be for or against the enemy. He said if we choose to do nothing, then we’re choosing to be on the enemy’s side.”

“I’ve arranged to meet with the editor of this newspaper,” Eloise said, waving it. “Tomorrow, in fact. Ans will come with me, won’t you? We’ll fight the Nazis on every possible front.” The professor looked up at Ans, pleading silently.

“Yes. We’ll go together.”

“I hate it that we’ve had so little time together lately,” Ans said as she went into Erik’s arms the following afternoon. “Can we go for a walk?” Evenings out together were no longer possible with the new curfew laws, so they snatched whatever moments they could.

“There won’t be time. I’m going on duty soon. Maybe we can just sit out here on the steps for a few minutes.”

Ans sank down on the cold stone step beside him, her head on his shoulder. “This terrible war is interrupting everyone’s life,” she said. “Will we still be able to see each other this weekend?”

“That’s what I came to tell you. There’s a meeting I have to attend.”

“Is it about the protests at the university?” Erik had never mentioned seeing her at the demonstration for Prince Bernhard’s birthday, so Ans assumed that he hadn’t. Should she tell him that she’d gone to the protest at the university yesterday?