In April of 1943, amidst the vibrant yet troubled streets of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the seventh chapter of "We Were The Lucky Ones" unfolds with Addy residing in the city. He finds solace in penning letters to his cherished family, each one meticulously sealed and entrusted to the Red Cross for delivery, while earning his keep in a quaint bookbinding shop. Yet, despite the countless missives he sends, a haunting silence echoes in response, leaving him yearning for a word from home.
As the shadows of war loom larger, Addy learns of the devastating bombings and relentless battles ravaging Poland. Grief-stricken and disillusioned, he cannot contain his emotions, staging an emotional outburst in a local tavern. His voice, raw with despair, echoes the plight of millions of Jews persecuted and annihilated, yet seemingly ignored by the world. His passionate lament earns him an unceremonious ejection from the establishment.
It is in this fragile state that Madame Lowbeer discovers him, a figure of desperate distress. Taking pity on him, she extends a hand of compassion, inviting him into the warmth of her home. The subtle hints scattered throughout their conversation reveal a heart-wrenching truth: Addy and Eliska, once inseparable, are now estranged. Eliska, meanwhile, finds herself entangled in a courtship with an American, a relationship met with maternal disapproval, a tale as common as it is complex.
However, Addy voices his profound sorrow over the loss of his family, having not received any news from them for countless years, leading him to sorrowfully presume their demise. Madame Lowbeer, sensing his despair, offers words of encouragement, urging him not to abandon hope and suggesting that he move forward for the sake of his cherished mother's memory.
In Warsaw, Poland, just beyond the confines of the ghetto, Halina toils as an assistant to the man she had met at the fateful party, while Bella toils away in a shop. It is here that Jakob interrupts her work with urgent news: they must flee at once, for a neighboring family has been apprehended on suspicion of being Jewish.
Against this backdrop of looming peril, the city's skies are darkened by relentless bombing as the Home Army, a valiant force comprising Jewish resistance fighters, engages in a desperate battle against the German forces. When Halina finally returns to her home, the grim reality dawns upon her—the Home Army is on the brink of defeat.
Meanwhile, Felicia, now aged six, resides within the confines of the convent, shrouded under the alias Barbara. Her solitary existence and refusal to acknowledge her false name cast a shadow of suspicion over her among some of the nuns. It appears that one of the sisters is privy to Felicia's true identity and has been secretly aiding in her concealment. To further blend in, the nun takes it upon herself to bleach Felicia's hair, transforming her appearance to resemble that of a German child. Despite this, Felicia opens up, expressing a deep longing for her mother.
Elsewhere, Genec manages to enlist in the Polish army, offering his family a brief respite from the years of grueling starvation and dire living conditions that had plagued them. During a moment of vulnerability, when he's confined to the medical room suffering from an ulcer, he encounters Selim, a former escapee from Europe who now serves as a doctor within the Polish army. The two men reconcile and jointly decide to reach out to their respective families through letters.
Seven months later, the scene shifts to Warsaw. Halina, recognized by a woman from Radom, is confronted with a threat that forces her to part with both her cash and coat. Upon returning to her workplace, her employer, Herr Den, lends her a replacement coat, a gesture that uncovers another layer of his character. Halina learns that Herr Den is preparing to flee Krakow, anticipating the looming war. In a gesture of kindness and perhaps compassion, he extends an invitation to Halina, urging her to join him whenever she feels the need.
Meanwhile, Mila embarked on a journey to the convent, where she found Felicia exuding an uncommon tranquility, a stillness that clung to her like a shroud of peace. There was an undeniable aura of transformation about her, a subtle shift that Mila had failed to notice before. When Mila called her name, Felicia responded, mistaking her for Barbara in a moment of absorption.
Later, during a conversation with one of the nuns, Mila received a stark warning: the perilous circumstances necessitated a reduction in her visits.
Halina and Adam stumble upon a sanctuary, ideal for use as an air-raid shelter. Halina's mind wandered to the looming worry of how they might settle her parents' lodging fees. Adam, sensing her anxiety, reassured her that their lodgers would not evict her parents over a single overdue payment. He then surprised her with birthday wishes, revealing that while Halina had embraced her 26th year, Adam had just turned 31.
Later, Adam reconvenes with Rahel, his clandestine compatriot from the underground, whoshared her plans to relocate. It was then, amidst their conversation, that the sky erupted with explosions, forcing them to part ways abruptly. Meanwhile, Halina, unperturbed by the chaos, made her steadfast journey towards the refuge.
Some time elapsed, finding Adam, Halina, and Mila taking refuge in the shelter. With provisions dwindling, Adam and Halina embarked on a perilous journey to restock their supplies. During this mission, they received the harrowing news of the Home Army's defeat and Rahel's bravery, where she perished after slaying three Germans in battle. Adam's heart sank as he pondered joining the fray, but Halina, with great effort, persuaded him otherwise. Just as bombs began to rain down, they scurried back to the shelter.
In the aftermath, Jakob and Bella arrived to evacuate Halina, Adam, and Mila from their sanctuary. Jakob conveyed the grim reality: the Home Army had been vanquished, and their current location was perilous. They agreed to rendezvous at the same time and place the next day—Adam and Mila set out to locate Felicia, while Halina headed to Herr Den in Krakow seeking assistance, and Jakob and Bella sought refuge elsewhere.
Upon arriving at the convent, Adam and Mila found it in ruins, a pile of debris. Yet, amidst the devastation, they discovered the girls safe with the sisters. Among them was Felicia. Meanwhile, Halina's journey took a drastic turn when soldiers boarded her train, arresting her and confining her to a prison cell, despite her repeated assertions of not being Jewish.
Across the seas, in France, Genec arrived to engage in the frontline battle. Although surrounded by cheers of "Long Live Poland," his doubts lingered, suspecting their infantry was being deceitfully sacrificed as the weakest were dispatched to the forefront. His friend attempted to reassure him, urging him to believe in their impending victory, insisting it was not a suicidal endeavor. When Genec sought treatment for his bleeding nail from Selim, the latter encouraged him to find faith—whether in God or the love that surrounded him—quoting Herta, "Faith is a choice." As the fighting commenced, Genec, though uncertain and filled with terror, recited Hebrew prayers, drawing strength and courage to push forward.
In Rio, Addy, spurred by Madame Lowbeer's request, attended a party where he met Caroline. Their paths crossed again on a date, during which Caroline shared her mother's passing. In return, Addy confessed his Jewish heritage and uncertainty about his family's fate in Europe. Despite this, Caroline's kindness shone through, encouraging him to introduce her to his kin. Gradually, Addy found solace from his grief and visited Madame Lowbeer, asking permission to use her piano. She was thrilled by his request.
