Irena didn’t look surprised, but her hand moved to the crucifix around her neck. Only then did she seem to realize she had to take it off. As she grabbed the clasp, she hesitated. “This was the last gift my father gave me,” she murmured, more to herself than to me. She hastily removed it and handed it to me. I should have put it with the confiscated jewelry, but when the crucifix and chain settled in my palm, I closed my hand into a fist. I couldn’t let it go. Not yet.

An SS officer marched down the hall, shouting orders, and he focused on me and Irena. “Keep her moving, 16671.”

Hearing the command made Irena’s fate all too real, and I had to do something. I couldn’t let her die. I didn’t have time to develop a plan, only to beg.

“Wait!” I shouted, and I grabbed his arm. “She’s going to give birth any day now, then she can work, for God’s sake, let her work—” I broke off when the officer jerked out of my grasp and raised a hand to strike me, but, before he could, Irena grabbed my shoulders and shook me.

“Listen, you crazy bitch, I don’t know who the hell you think I am, but I’ve told you we don’t know each other, and I don’t want to work with you. Leave me alone.” She pushed me away and turned to the officer in exasperation. “Please tell me where I need to go to get away from her.”

He gave her an amused smirk. “Take a left down the next hallway and continue into the courtyard.” He gestured in the proper direction before moving away from us.

Once he’d gone, Irena turned to me. “I may have learned a thing or two from Helena Pilarczyk.” She flashed a small, teasing smile as she used my resistance name.

All I could do was follow her toward the courtyard, so I did. I would stay with her as long as I could. She stood tall, shoulders back, chin and chest lifted, a protective hand on her round midsection.

“Why did you stop me?” I murmured as we walked.

Irena took a deep breath before replying. “Because even if they let me work after giving birth, they’d take my baby. And I’ll be damned if I let them take my baby.” Her voice broke as a single tear escaped. She brushed it away hastily and swallowed hard; when she spoke again, her tone was as steady as always. “I can’t save my child, but we can face death together.”