I had to hold my head up high and put a bold face on things, but the thoughts keep coming anyways.

No one is spared. The sick, the elderly, children, babies, and pregnant women - all marched to their death.

We just wanted to get out of there, to get away and reach our destination in safety. Nothing else mattered.

I know that there will be solace for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances.

Now that the war has long been over, I know why my fear vanished beneath that spacious sky. You see, once I was alone with nature I realized, without actually being aware of it, that fear doesn't help, that it doesn't get you anywhere. Anyone who's as frightened as I was should look to nature and realize that God is much closer than most people think. From that moment on, though countless bombs fell close by, I was never truly afraid again.

It won't do us or those outside any good if we continue to be as gloomy as we are now. And what would be the point of turning the Secret Annex into a Melancholy Annex?

whatever the circumstances. I firmly believe that nature can bring comfort to all who suffer.

The best remedy for those who are frightened, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere they can be alone, alone with the sky, nature and God. For then and only then can you feel that everything is as it should be and that God wants people to be happy amid nature's beauty and simplicity. As long as this exists, and that should be forever, I know that there will be solace for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances. I firmly believe that nature can bring comfort to all who suffer.

Dearest Kitty, So there we were, Father, Mother and I, walking in the pouring rain, each of us with a schoolbag and a shopping bag filled to the brim with the most varied assortment of items. The people on their way to work at that early hour gave us sympathetic looks; you could tell by their faces that they were sorry they couldn't offer us some kind of transportation; the conspicuous yellow star spoke for itself. Only

God has not forsaken me, and He never will.

don't dare do anything anymore, 'cause I'm afraid it's not allowed.

The Knock at the Door by Ina Boudier-Bakker.