Hitler's Daughter
What would she say if she were alive and twelve?
Heidi:
(Pauses, taking a deep breath.)
No! Mel! Wait, don't leave! Ugh! Shouldn’t have told her about my past. I deserved that side eye, should’ve known she was Jewish.
You know, it’s not like I asked to be his daughter, (beat) I didn’t pick this name. But every day, I have to deal with the weight of his actions. It’s like (beat) carrying a backpack, so full and heavy, that I never packed. The whole class stares at me when the teacher calls out my name. (beat) Some even have jaws dangling open! I don’t want to be this - (beat) the daughter of a person who decided to weed out unfit and Jewish people.
(Looks down, voice trembling.)
Duffi. (beat) He’s the same man who (beat) hugs me and says he loves me. How can the person who tells me I’m special be the same person who’s (beat) killed so many people and children just like me? (beat) He hasn’t killed me only because I’m his daughter. Maybe only because he wants there to be a future generation under the name ‘Hitler’.
(Takes a deep breath, trying to stay composed.)
I just want to be seen for who I am. I want people to see me, not my dad’s mistakes. It’s so hard to do anything when everyone keeps looking at me, (beat) seeing him. I’ll do anything to be normal, try to make friends and try to close those mouths whose whispering goes on forever.
(Her voice softens)
I have to find my spotlight in the middle of all this darkness, but people will probably never consider me. They’ll think, (beat) they’ll think, (beat) I’m (beat) him.
Why couldn’t Duffi just come home? Why couldn’t he think about my future under his shadow? (beat) Why do I have to bear his mistakes?
I can’t do this, I just can’t. I won’t be able to find my world if I don’t cast my past aside. I need to be me, just me, (beat) Heidi. Not Hitler’s daughter, just me.
About the Creator
Ankitaa Arun💕
Hello! I don't really like writing, but I love sharing stories with others. Here I am, and I hope you like my stories and poems. Oh, and I adore Stray Kids!
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Comments (2)
Thank you so much Caitlin 💕
‘Carrying a backpack, so full and heavy that I never packed’, a line that holds so much weight. I can quite easily sympathise with this character. Then you brought us before the gateway into the eyes of selfishness, moving from ‘special’ daughter to deleting the lives of ‘children like me’ highlighting that the title that once was, can be taken through the dead victims, directing us back to the one who claimed a lie. This story moves me to connect with the character, to know and feel her, that’s not always easy to do. A very well done to you.