Tata clutched the bars for a moment, then approached Mama, but she shoved him away, sank to her knees, and pressed her forehead against the door.

Mama never swore—not when she knew we were listening—and Zofia’s eyes widened.

“What happened, Maria?” she asked, her voice tremulous. “Where have you been?”

If I lay motionless much longer, I didn’t think I’d ever move again. “Private questioning,” I murmured, though I didn’t look at her as I sat up. “Mama’s upset because they pushed me.”

Maybe Zofia believed me. Or maybe she wondered if the outburst wasn’t as unwarranted as I’d made it appear.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Though I’d suspected she’d ask that question, it still wasn’t easy to hear. “I’m tired,” I said as Mama returned to my side, but a tremor slipped into my voice.

“But you—”

Mama lifted her head toward my sister. “Zofia Florkowska, not another word.”

Zofia took a startled step back, bit her quivering bottom lip, and retreated to the small bed. Tata sat beside her and kissed her cheek. He glanced at Mama, who opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Karol hurried to her side. He was gnawing on his shirt collar, a habit that indicated he was deep in thought, though he knew better than to chew on his clothing.

“What’s a bastard?”

“That’s not a polite word, Karol,” Tata said.

“Then why did Mama say it?”

“I’m sorry, darling, but they—” Mama’s voice caught. “They pushed your sister.”

“That wasn’t nice of them,” Karol said, then he darted toward the roach he’d been watching before Mama’s expletive distracted him. He followed it as it scuttled into the corner.

Tata brushed a tear from Zofia’s face. “Will you keep an eye on your brother?”

While she joined Karol, Tata sat on the floor beside me and Mama. We rested our backs against the wall, which placed pressure on my bruises, but I was too tired to mind. I rubbed a thin crust of dried blood from my hand. Maybe my parents hadn’t noticed it.

“Darling, please,” Mama whispered, but they could infer enough as it was.

I blinked through tears as Tata placed a gentle hand over mine. “When they threatened to bring the rest of you in there, I gave them false information.”

My parents were silent. Mama kissed a tear from my cheek, then rushed to the door and stood with her back to us. Both hands ran through her hair and clutched it until her knuckles turned white. Her shoulders heaved, then she crossed the room and guided Zofia into her lap.