Of course that was why she had come back, but I could hardly believe what I’d heard. She came back to save my life. To give me a chance at freedom. Freedom. A sudden, fierce yearning filled me to the depths of my being, but I shook my head in refusal.

“No, you have to go before you’re caught. Go back to your mother and daughter. I won’t let you risk your life—”

“You don’t have a choice, because I’m already here, and there’s not a damn thing you can do to make me leave. Especially not after all the shit I went through to get here. But speaking of my family, I need you to promise me something.”

I opened my mouth to ask what it was, but the look on Irena’s face made the query catch in my throat. A cold terror settled in the pit of my stomach, and I wanted to beg her to remain silent. Voicing it made it real.

“Mama and Helena are staying in Mother Matylda’s orphanage in Ostrówek,” Irena said. “Our Home Army contacts wanted Mama to stay in Warsaw to help with their planned uprising, but we agreed leaving was necessary to protect Helena. They got out a week before the uprising began, and thank God they did. After what those Nazi bastards have done in the Mokotów district alone, I know exactly what happened to a middle-aged woman and child. Now you know where to find them if necessary, which brings me to the promise I mentioned.” At this, her voice wavered, so she paused for a moment. “If I’m discovered, you’ll tell Mama. You’ll look after her. And you’ll adopt my daughter.”

I’d expected the implications behind those words, but to say yes was to acknowledge a possibility too devastating to fathom, and I shook my head. “I can’t—”

“Dammit, Maria, don’t fight me on this.”

Irena fell into expectant silence. Of course I’d do it, but I didn’t trust myself to speak, so I dipped my head in assent. Suddenly my chest ached as it had in the railcar with my father, nodding as he reassured me after I apologized for what I had caused, though none of us yet knew the extent of the damage I’d done. Despite drawing constant comfort from Father Kolbe, and then his rosary, and resolving to fight for my life, neither had eradicated the truth. My failure had led to my family’s deaths; now one of my dearest friends was here on my behalf. Another life to potentially be lost for my sake.

I was faintly aware of Irena saying something about bringing me food later and smuggling me back to my block; then she started toward the door. As she turned, I grabbed her arm.