The comment added by Anne in her diary as early as on 28th September 1942 presents a very “dismal prospect”. She writes : “Not being able to go outside upsets me ....... and I’m terrified that our hiding place will be discovered and that we’ll be shot.” A girl of thirteen shows a rare insight. Unfortunately, how prophetic and true turned out her words! The annexe was raided on the morning of 4 August, 1944.
But Anne didn’t always think so badly about the future of her family and the life in the secret annexe all the times. No doubt, she thought that she would never ever “feel at home” there but it didn’t mean that she hated it. She thought it otherwise.
The annexe was an ideal place to hide in. It might be damp and lopsided but there was probably not a more comfortable hiding place in all of Amesterdam. Actually, she considered it the best hiding place in “all of Holland.”
But Anne is always torn between deep dismay and hope. She pictured all the eight persons in the Annexe. They were surrounded by “darkness and danger”. But Anne felt “selfish and cowardly” when she thought of Hanneli and those suffering along with her. She prayed to God to perform a miracle and save Hanneli and others. For Anne, Hanneli symbolised the sufferings of her friends as well as that of Jews in general.
But Anne doesn’t leave hope either for himself or for her family. No doubt, she can hear the approaching thunder’ that will destroy them. She also feels the sufferings of millions. And yet, when she looks up at the sky, she somehow feels that “everything will change for the better”. She feels that the cruelty of the war will end.