Ruth still remembers her time in the GDR in the East well. Back then, she was a young woman full of hopes and dreams, but the GDR was a place of restrictions, censorship, and oppression. Ruth longed for freedom and a better life. Finally, the day came when Ruth decided to flee to the West with her child and her mother. The Wall was already up, and the escape was dangerous. Ruth's mother had smuggled some valuable items to sell in the West and thus have money for a new start. But that was not all. She had also done something that put the lives of Ruth and her daughter at risk. Ruth's mother had smuggled things to her daughter. She had preferred to protect her own life rather than that of her daughter and granddaughter. It was a betrayal that Ruth found difficult to forgive. The danger she took was enormous. Ruth was deeply hurt and disappointed in her own mother. But she had to go on. The escape was not easy. They had to overcome many obstacles and hide from the watchful eyes of the border guards. It was a time of fear and uncertainty. Ruth couldn't help but condemn her mother for her selfish act. She wondered how her mother could go so far to protect her own life, without regard for the well-being of her daughter and granddaughter. After their escape, Ruth's mother had sent several letters to the East. Inside these letters was money she had set aside for her other children. Sending money to the East was forbidden, and border controls were strict. Ruth's mother had devised a risky plan to ensure the letters reached their destination safely: naming Ruth as the sender. If the letters had been intercepted at the border, the consequences would have been devastating. But Ruth couldn't ignore the fact that her mother was protecting her own life while risking her daughter's. And again. Her mother's betrayal hung over them like a dark shadow. The story of Ruth and her mother is marked by a painful betrayal. Ruth couldn't understand her mother's decisions and had to learn to cope. She realized that sometimes people make selfish decisions to protect their own lives, even those who seem closest to them. But Ruth chose to put the past behind her and lead her own family with love and responsibility. She didn't want to repeat her mother's mistakes and wanted to create a safe and caring environment for her children and grandchildren.
