Andrius, I'm...scared." He Stopped And Turned To

I Leapt Eagerly Into Books. The Characters’ Lives Were So Much More Interesting Than The Lonely Heartbeat Of My Own.

My Husband, Andrius, Says That Evil Will Rule Until Good Men Or Women Choose To Act. I Believe Him. This Testimony Was Written To Create An Absolute Record, To Speak In A World Where Our Voices Have Been Extinguished. These Writing May Shock Or Horrify You, But That Is Not My Intention. It Is My Greatest Hope That The Pages In This Jar Stir Your Deepest Well Of Human Compassion. I Hope They Prompt You To Do Something, To Tell Somone. Only Then Can We Ensure That This Kind Of Evil Is Never Allowed To Repeat Itself.

I Stared At The Enormous Homes, The Landscaping And Flower Beds Immaculate. It Was As If Dollar Bills, Instead Of Leaves, Hung From The Trees.

My Breathing Slowed. I Shaded Her Thick Chestnut Hair Resting In A Smooth Curve Against Her Face, A Large Bruise Blazing Across Her Cheek. I Paused, Looking Over My Shoulder To Make Certain I Was Alone. I Drew Her Eye Makeup, Smudged By Tears. In Her Watery Eyes I Drew The Reflection Of The Commander, Standing In Front Of Her, His Fist Clenched. I Continued To Sketch, Exhaled, And Shook Out My Hands.

I Looked Down At The Little Pink Face In The Bundle. A Newborn. The Child Had Been Alive Only Minutes But Was Already Considered A Criminal By The Soviets.