By the end of Miriam’s first week in the refugee camp, Avi had become a regular fixture at her daily practice sessions, sitting quietly off to the side, sometimes closing his eyes as she played. Even when she lost herself in the music, Miriam was aware of him sitting nearby, listening. His quiet serenity made her feel calm. He and many of the other refugees told her how much they enjoyed her music and thanked her for making Westerbork a little less bleak. She had just finished practicing one day and was putting her violin away when Avi rose from his customary place on the steps of the barracks and approached her.

“Miriam —I’ve been searching all week for a way to thank you for your music and the hours of enjoyment it has brought me, and I’ve come up with something.” He waved a book in the air. “If you’ll allow me, I would like to read a psalm to you.” He motioned to the place where he usually sat, inviting her to sit down. He smiled his familiar warm grin, then began to read:

“Listen to my words, Lord,

consider my lament.

Hear my cry for help,

my King and my God,

for to you I pray.

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before you

and wait expectantly. . . .

But let all who take refuge in you be glad;

let them ever sing for joy.

Spread your protection over them,

that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

“That psalm is about us, Miriam,” he said when he finished. “We’re refugees in this place, but our true refuge is in Him.”

“Will you read it again, please?”

He did. The words summed up Miriam’s unvoiced prayers and made her feel that her unshed tears were noticed.

Every afternoon after that, Avi read a psalm to her. Miriam looked forward to it as much as she did to losing herself in her music. Slowly, in spite of her losses, in spite of her stark surroundings, Miriam’s panic attacks became less frequent and she began to feel hopeful again. The psalmists knew suffering and what it was to wait in confident hope. To wait with countless questions and no answers. She wasn’t alone in her loneliness. Avi became a trusted friend.

CHAPTER 5