“But surely the Allies will stop them.” For so long, we had heard about the advancing armies from the east and south, racing to our aid. Just hold on; that had been the message.

He shook his head. “They’re trying. But we need help here faster than they can manage. So many die while we wait. And what if they don’t succeed?” The thought, which had come to me more than once in the dark hours of the night, was more than I could bear. I could not imagine living this way forever.

“We have to do something,” he finished. A steely look formed in his azure blue eyes and I could see that he had found his true purpose, a newfound strength. I hated how it had taken him from me, but I knew that he was doing the work he was meant to do. I looked up at Krys with admiration. He would not have let Miriam and the other Jewish students be taken from his class. He would have done something to help the woman on the bridge. And he would help Sadie now. I wanted to tell him about her, but the words stuck in my throat.

“Now are you going to tell me what you were doing in this neighborhood again?” he asked, changing the subject back to me without warning.

I hesitated. He had confided so much. I should be honest with him as he had been with me. But Sadie’s secret was not mine to tell. “Just running an errand,” I insisted. He looked at me skeptically and I could feel the distance grow between us once more.

“Now that you know about my work, you could help us,” he said.

“Me?” I was surprised.

“Yes. Women are very useful to the Home Army because they can act as couriers and go more places without suspicion. There are errands in the city and beyond. Or we might be able to use Ana Lucia’s closeness to the Germans to get information for the Home Army. You could make a real difference, Ella.” I was flattered that Krys might think of me that way.

“You said it was too dangerous.”

“It is dangerous,” he admitted. “That’s why I tried to keep away from you and not tell you about my work. But you know now. And the Home Army needs help more than ever. Perhaps we could work together,” he added. “What do you say?”

I desperately wanted to say yes, to be in his life once more. But something held me back. I wasn’t brave, like Krys. Part of me was afraid. Slipping some food to help someone in hiding was one thing, but risking my life for the Home Army quite another. I didn’t dare risk my stepmother’s wrath, any more so than I already was by going to see Sadie. “I can’t,” I said finally. “I wish I could. I’m sorry.”

Krys’ face fell. “Me, too. I understand how terrifying this all must sound. Still, I thought you would say yes. I thought that you were different.” I was different now, I wanted to say, with secrets of my own. But I could not explain without betraying Sadie. I felt the distance rise up and solidify between us again like an iceberg, the moment of closeness gone. “It’s all dangerous, Ella.” His words were pointed and I wondered if he knew about Sadie after all. “We might as well stand up and be counted.” I did not answer. “I should be going,” he said.