"Just a little bit further," he whispered to me, heated breath tickling my ear.

I could only smile at him in wonder. Could only set my eyes to twinkle at him in loving gratitude. How did he do it? It was such a question to me, that which I could never understand. How did he make everything seem so easy and the world so calm? How did he make lying appear a gift rather than a sin? And what could I have done to be blessed with him?

I ignored his statement, though, for he could no longer hide the truth. Miles had passed since our last stop, last home. Constant travel on foot was blistering and bloodying my feet, sending splintering shots up my calves. But it had only been an hour at most since he'd last spoken similar encouraging words, spurred me onwards as the sweet, sweet baby clung to my side.

The little child was hungry, I knew it well. As well as thirsty and well desiring beloved attention. She could, at least, sleep plentifully as we took our turns carrying her along the dreary dirt path.

From this view it looked endless, stretching into the horizon as nothing more than a dry and abandoned swatch of Earth. Christened, of course, with a faded dirt path, decorated only with red ants and lizards that chose to bask in our presence. We would not be reaching the end, could not stand a chance--that was the truth of it. Even as we were trudging about our walk was only becoming longer as we were shunned from more and more places.

We would die together, malnourished and dehydrated in the deep-set sun, as little more than strangers, but at least we would go together. If only we were pulled together by being ripped apart.

And until the very moment I die, I will hold onto these new people. These strangers who proved more loyal than the very beings I called my family, that share my blood. To my last breath I will stick with this light-skinned man. With my very last ounce of strength I will carry this Jewish baby. And to the end, never again will I say that I'd best be off alone.

So I leaned into his arm for a short, comforting moment as we walked, eyes twinkling down at the road, "Yeah, just a bit more."