The morning came. The same pale sunlight was penetrating through our thin curtains, the same kettle hiss, the same faint breathing of a woman curled against me, who was once so close to me. But I had no time to linger on my thoughts, I had been magically hired into my dream job just because...I helped someone? If yesterday had taught me anything, it's that life never announces anything. It just expects you to go into it blindly

  My first day at the hospital wasn’t glorious, or terrifying, or anything I had rehearsed in my head for years. It was…gentle. Like the world was giving me a chance to enter it without stumbling

  The tall brunette woman from yesterday handed me a uniform that had the scent of bleach and unfamiliar lives on it. Too big in the shoulders, too stiff around the neck. I looked like a boy wearing a man’s future, even if I was 28 years old by this point. I looked down at the badge, and it said, "Vladimir Kuznetsov".

  The corridors were quieter than I imagined. No film-like chaos. Just footsteps, distant monitors, and the occasional cough echoing like a reminder of why any of us were here. I spent most of the morning learning routines, charts, medicines, and how to adjust bed positions without breaking the mechanism or a patient’s spine.

  I crossed paths with Olga multiple times throughout the day in the corridors, no matter where I was, almost as if something was trying to push us together. Her hair was tied messily if she gave up halfway through. She didn't pry her mouth open once. Silently watching me walk instead.

  Then our 12:00 lunch break started. Since I didn't know where the canteen was, I sat at one of the benches near the stairs, waiting for someone familiar to come. A few foreign faces passed by until I saw her, the quiet nurse who got me in yesterday

  She appeared at the end of the hall, moving quietly but with confidence. She recognised me on the bench, even if I was holding a newspaper in front of my face

  "Hello, Kolya, are you lost?"

  I was a little caught off guard by that, Huh? How'd you know-

  "The way you were sitting and constantly looking behind that newspaper, I could tell," said in a way that almost indicated this wasn't her first time

  "Now what are you waiting for? Let's get something to eat," she said firmly. This wasn't the same nurse I saw yesterday, I swear

  Uhh...okay? I said following her downstairs to what I presumably thought was the canteen

  I couldn't help but wonder, after yesterday, after all she's done, what her name was

  So… what’s your name? I asked, careful not to sound too eager.

  She glanced at me briefly

  "Valentina," said abruptly

  For a particular reason, that name sounded oddly fitting for her. Strong and elegant, like her

  Then we came to the canteen. There was a narrow corridor to the side that led up to it, easy to miss if you weren’t looking for it. It was smaller than I had imagined, and the ceiling was painted a light green, the kind of colour that had probably been chosen decades ago and never questioned since.

  The smell of the place reminded me of the tavern in some ways. The same mix of stews, dairy, and boiled foods. The only difference was the absence of grilled meat, and the people were far more formal here. Long tables stood in neat rows, their surfaces scratched and dulled by years of elbows, cups, and quiet lunches. A few staff members were already seated, eating in silence or speaking in low, practical tones, as if even their conversations were on a schedule.

  There was no menu; you ate whatever was ready. I took a metal tray and was given mashed potatoes, borscht, a slice of bread spread with shushchyonka, and a kotleta as the main dish. I sat at a table near one of the corners, deliberately choosing one with nobody else at it. I avoided people without really thinking about it. I didn’t know anyone here yet.

  I stared at the kotleta for a while, the steam already fading. I wondered if mama and papa would be proud of how I had survived the past decade and how I started living from last week instead of merely surviving

  I looked at the clock; there were 10 minutes left. So, I finally picked up my fork and took a single bite. It wasn't fancy or delicious, but this would do

  Then I heard one of the chairs from the opposite side pull back, followed by metal pressing against the table, deliberately careful, almost as if it was done to minimise noise and attention

  I didn't look up

  I knew who it was anyway

  No careless shove of the chair. Just that soft, measured pull followed up by the gentle scraping of 2 metals clashing against each other

  I finished my meal pretty fast and ate my borscht. I was planning to get back to work immediately...until the dryness in my throat reminded me I needed a drink

  Olga was there, from right where I was hearing gentle scraping sounds. No compot, tea, or even borscht. It was just meat, and she was chewing very slowly, almost deliberately so

  She probably needs a drink to wash that down, I thought to myself, so I did what I thought was best for her

  I stood, went to the teapot near the wall, and filled two cups. The liquid was pale, faintly golden.

  Ivan chay

  Perfect, I decided, for reasons I didn't bother thinking

  I carried the cups back carefully to our table and handed her one of them. Even though I know she was watching the entire time, she always did. But I could tell she hadn't expected this. Not for her

  Добрый день(good afternoon), Olga. I thought you might need something to gulp down...with all that meat you have there-

  "Спасибо", she interrupted quickly, almost too quickly, and she was blushing. I couldn't tell if she was embarrassed or something else

  Эээ, ладно?, That was unexpected. She just showed vulnerability, but more importantly, she spoke

  I sat back where I was and drank my tea quietly, far from her. Thought it'd be better if I gave her space

  By the time I was done, the canteen had just me and her left.

  I watched her for a moment, careful not to stare to make her uncomfortable. Noticing the way those crystal blue pupils flicker back in forth between an emerald green poster on the wall and her tray. Something was telling me this had something to do with me

  I looked behind to the clock again, and it was almost time, and I stood up. I gently reminded her of it and went back to that narrow corridor without looking back.

  The rest of the afternoon passed in quiet rhythm. Even though this was technically my first ever day, it didn't feel new to me at all. Getting to help people, cheering them, nurturing the ones in need, and just having basic human decency are things I do every day. Raising Soyolma must have played a role in this.

  But what was indeed foreign was how I saw my younger self in countless patients, and that I wasn't the only one to spend my youth...surviving at rock bottom. Maybe I'm not the only one to disintegrate internally during the 1990s. But rather, Russia did

  By the time I checked in with my last patient by early evening, I had become tired, but in a satisfied kind of way, not the exhausted way that had become a staple of my life

  Valentina stopped me by the locker and asked me if I'd prefer early shifts or late ones.

  I paused for a second before saying, I'll do early shifts...like today!

  "You seem to be good with children, Kolya. I personally believe you should take late shifts. You'd be happy with it, right?" said in a way completely outside her mandated form. Valentina has been speaking today as if we had been friends for years

  That caught me off guard. Late shifts…happy with it? She wasn’t asking as a supervisor. She was interested in me, in what suited me, in what might make me…content

  Well...I'd love to, supervisor, but. I looked at my left arm. I have too many bad memories of working at night around the town center. It has nothing to do with this hospital! I promise

  "Do you want to?" she said softly

  I think for another day. Welp. See you tomorrow, supervisor! said in a way that almost made me sound like I was avoiding her

  "Call me by my name, 'supervisor', makes me sound old."

  Alright then, Valentina, Пока!

  Walking home, the air felt lighter than expected. Thoughts of Valentina's behaviour today lingered until it gave me away at the familiar hum of home

  Mandukhai was in the living room watching 1980s performances by Alla Pugacheva. Strange, I had thought, she's usually in the bedroom around this time. I caught a few lines of the song, words about leaving and returning, about choosing oneself over others. It struck me as oddly fitting. Mandukhai’s gaze lingered on the screen, but somehow I felt the words were for her future, not her present

  She then turned around like an owl, suddenly, and asked me a question that I'd never forget

  "Soo, Kolya. Ever thought of marriage?"

  I leaned back slightly, caught off guard

  Marriage...? Not knowing whether to take that seriously. Until I realised Mandukhai never lies

  "Yes", she said, leaning a little forward on the sofa

  "Kolya, we've been together for 12 years now, lived together for 10, and we have a 9-year-old child, and 28 years old ourselves. And yet, you still haven't proposed to me once," she may have said nice words, but her voice tone gave it away

  I've thought about...but never really considered it, Mandukhai. I've just got a few problems...

  "And what could those problems be. Hmm?" She put more effort into that sentence than she usually does, but I could tell for the wrong reasons. The thing is, I was young back then. I didn't know how to be confident or stand up for myself, because all I cared about at that time was Soyolma and being loyal, and not myself, for Mikola Vyachorka. All I prioritised was stability and control, but not freedom and being happy

  “So, what is it then?” she asked again

  There were a dozen answers. None of them sounded clean enough to survive being spoken. So I reached for the safest one.

  For… stability, I said. I didn’t want to rush. The nineties didn’t exactly teach us that promises last, Mandukhai.

  She didn’t answer right away. Just watched me, like she was lining something up in her head.

  “I see,” she said finally. “You’re scared of marriage.”

  The word scared sat between us, heavier than it should’ve been.

  I wouldn’t say scared, I started, then stopped myself. Arguing the wording wouldn’t change anything. I just… don’t want to do it wrong

  "Kolya, we already did it wrong," she said. “We just never gave it a name.”

  I didn’t have an answer for that.

  So instead, I nodded.

  …Alright, I said quietly. Maybe I am.

  "Good," said not angrily, but worse, with confidence

  "We'll discuss this later, Kolya"

  Да, ладно. I'm going to make myself pelmeni now. Would you like some-

  "No thanks", as she got back into her posture and eyes on the screen again

  While I was waiting for the dumplings to boil, I decided to check up on Soyolma. She was asleep, as she always happened to be during important discussions. Her blanket was low, so I fully tucked her in, gave her a small kiss on the forehead

  When I turned to leave, her small compact desk caught my attention

  It was a little messy. Not dirty, just unorderly. Pencils scattered, a notebook fallen to the ground, and an unwashed cup on the side. I looked inside it, and there was some leftover juice in it. I began tidying it until I found something...unusual beneath all the rubble of textbooks.

  It was her Science notebook, but it was all wet, with no stain. I'd quickly figure out it was water. But it doesn't look like she'd been drinking any water?

  But what truly caught my attention was that her handwriting was scribbled on the wet pages. Although I know she writes elegantly, the letters became uneven and shaky at the end.

  I heard groaning from behind.

  Eh, probably just my imagination. I thought to myself. Now let's take this notebook and dry it-

  "Mama!! I'm...s-so sorry. I promise, I won't leave the desk untidy again! I'll never do it again. Just...please! Don't hurt me!"

  I froze. I was speechless. What happened to her?

  Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

  After what felt like eternity, I turned my head around and saw Soyolma whimpering and her arms put up against her head

  I slowly walked up to her bed and hugged her. Careful not to make this even worse

  There there, моя дочь, papa's here, I'm not going anywhere

  She hugged me back tightly, so much so that her nails started to dig into my skin. But I couldn't care less, my daughter is hurt

  After her whimping stopped for good and her tears stopped raining down, I asked her what had happened, and it's safe to say. I predicted everything that came out of her word-for-word. I searched for anything that wouldn't feel like an empty promise, so I promised to take her to Chita on Sunday so she could buy the book she'd been asking me for months

  "B-but, papa, don't you rest on Sundays?" Her voice was still shaky, but in much better shape now

  Resting can wait; you come first. Now, c'mon, follow me to the kitchen, your mother hasn't cooked anything for you all day

  She hesitated; she was trying her hardest to form anything, but her eyes spoke out first

  Alright then, I said. I'll bring you the food here, and let's eat together in your room. Deal?

  "Uhh, deal!" she managed, a small smile breaking through

  I brought the pelmenis over to her little desk, and we ate. She ate slowly at first, but once I reassured her everything, she began devouring it. So much so that I had to hand her over a few of my own dumplings

  Careful! I said, but I actively tried to sound soft, not to panic her. Eating too much before bed can be bad, Soyolma.

  "Sorry, Papa. It's just that...I-I am hungry."

  That's alright, I said. You're allowed to be hungry

  After she fell asleep again, full and quiet this time, I stayed seated at her desk for a while. By this point, her notebook had dried out

  The apartment returned to its usual sounds, the hum of the refrigerator, and Mandukhai watching the television in the distance. I didn't really pay attention until it said something like

  "Я уеду и вернусь"

  Strange, I thought to myself. Just lyrics.

  What stayed with me instead was how quickly Soyolma had eaten. Not the hunger itself, but the apology that followed it. If this was the life I was going to build, then it was my responsibility to make sure she had room in it. Quiet. Space. Somewhere, she didn’t have to explain herself.

  I turned off the desk lamp and closed the door carefully behind me. And alas, ended the last day that felt usual to me, at least in the normal sense

  The next year would become a sort of "normalisation" time period. Because by the time I had realised certain rhythms had changed, it was already routine

  Morning-afternoon shifts at the hospital, surrounded by the same corridors, the same patients cycling in and out of rooms, older or younger versions of problems I already knew how to hold. My hands learned what to do before my mind caught up. Even my left arm found its own way to compensate.

  As the months progressed, Valentina kept on making new nicknames for me, each one more silly than the last. Until she made one, even she would be satisfied with "Зелёное сердце" as her final, or that's at least what she promised.

  About Olga? She would stay observant, isolated, but grounded. Although I did notice one by one, she would start sitting closer to me at lunch. Yesterday, she sat directly across from me, and while I was gone to get us yet another cup, she had written down her phone number on a napkin and put it in my lunchbox I bring for extra snacks

  For something I had been waiting my whole life to happen, all of this felt...normal? I was expecting it to be a little bit more eventful. I guess becoming a doctor was never really a dream, but rather, it was destiny

  And judging from the pay I was receiving, things were working out. Sure, Myroslav paid decent enough, so I wouldn't be living paycheck to paycheck, but with this, I'm finally starting to feel like I have become financially secure. I wanted to buy Soyolma a few things, but those have to wait until after one surprise

  The apartment was getting older and older, the water pipes constantly had things going on, and it couldn't keep us warm during bad storms.

  Somewhere in October 2005, on one of my off days, I had a discussion with Mandukhai about this, and one other reason

  Now that Mandukhai had been hired into a salon by one of her friends, and with both of us earning decent pay, we decided to buy a house right after arranging our wedding in autumn 2006.

  I wanted our house to be perfectly suited for the 3 of us. Built from wood, the walls were formed out of logs, and traditionally featured small double windows with double shutters. Basically, the most average homes you see in villages but slightly modified

  But at the end of the day, we opted for a minimalist modern house because someone told me to live in 2005 and not in 1905. The logs, shutters, little symbolic paintings, and cozy nooks had to be given away to straight lines, open spaces, and bland neutral walls. I sighed, imagining how our little family would navigate all the sleekness and "coziness" instead of the warmth I had planned out.

  As the months trudged forward and the date settled into place, nothing felt different. The apartment seemed unchanged despite everything. Soyolma grew. Both Olga and Valentina slowly but surely started to feel less like coworkers and more like friends. They started to remind me of my classmates I had befriended over 20 years ago in a similar way back at Borzya. I wondered how they were doing now.

  But I couldn't help but notice a sense of unease inside me. Like air filling something you weren't sure existed until it began pressing back.

  The day before the ceremony in September 2006, the usual feeling of excitement I've seen in every other wedding just simply didn't exist. This didn't feel like a celebration; it felt like an obligation. But I can't do anything about it now, it was too late

  Mandukhai had already contacted some of her friends, a few of her cousins, and Babushka and Dedushka a few days earlier. Apparently, they had been living near Ulan-Ude ever since 2001.

  She told me to try to bring as many people as possible from my end as well. But if you've been paying attention to my life, you know that I don't have much of a "family". Sure, Tatiana or Isaak are probably doing something somewhere, but they aren't a part of my life anymore

  During that day's shift, I had asked Valentina if she wanted to come over the next day

  Not like that

  I told her it was a small ceremony. That there wouldn't be people from my side, that she didn't have to bring anything, and that she didn't have to stay long-

  "Sure! Зелёное сердце! she said immediately, "I'd love to be there for your 'little' wedding," she said excitedly, almost as if she wanted to be there more than me

  You don't have to come, Valentina.

  "I know" without skipping a beat ."What time"

  Just around the afternoon. Alright, Valentina, thanks for being here for me. It...means so much to me. Bye-

  I moved to hang up before I could turn this into more than it already was

  "And where do you think you're going?", her tone slipping neatly into authority.

  I stopped instantly

  "Mikola! As your supervisor, you have the obligation to give me further notice about this wedding. Do you honestly think you can invite a woman and then disappear without even letting her know about its place and what she should bring?"

  I-I'm sorry, Valentina! I won't

  "Хороший," she cut in, satisfied. "Now start over. Time, place, and whether I need to save you from embarrassing yourself."

  Well...I already have someone to save me in that case, said informatively

  "And who could that be, hm?" she pressed, leaning forward like she knew the answer

  I shrugged. The loud guy I talk to on the telephone. The one who sounds like he's choking on seeds

  Her eyes flicked just a little, like she was assessing the situation, then a small, almost mischievous smile appeared

  "Ahh, so you're talking about that Ukrainian man, huh?"

  It was that blend of teasing authority and knowing everything that threw me off, Valentina, even know, managed to make planning a small wedding feel like a tactical operation. I told her what she should wear, bring, and where it is, well, at least that's what I tried before she predicted everything I'd say. But more importantly, I told her I had a daughter this whole time, and she didn't take that well, but not in the bad kind of way. I do remember her saying something like

  "You...have a daughter?" as her smile faltered for a fraction of a second.

  The rest of the day went on as usual, checking stats, arranging a few appointments, giving health advice to patients, etc. When I got done with today's work and went to the entrance, I saw Olga there entering from the front door. Old memories came flying in, and I tried to catch her this time, only to snap back to memory and realise she's just fine and this is not the same stormy morning

  "Вы в...порядке?(Are you fine?)," she asked

  Aha, Olga! Would you like to c-come over...

  Then I realised I was asking Olga that question, not just anyone. Sure, ever since we met, she had grown closer, started speaking one more word each week, each one more confident than the last. I had even contacted her the other day when she gave her number, curious about a part of her life I'd never seen. But it's still Olga. Subtle things about humans may change from time to time, but their identities never do. I was probably invading her personal space too much

  Uh, so, update to this section as of 2016 at 39, I hadn't realised at the time how much I had actually meant to her, especially when I nearly invited her over to the wedding. I was clearly the only person she had dared to open up, even to the slightest extent, and yeah, she may have liked me. And I was completely blind to it at the time. Why? I don't know! I was only 29 years old by then!

  But I did know someone back then, not just their basic information, but them as a person. You may be wondering why I didn't contact Myroslav up until now, and it's simple. Because I knew he was the type of person to show even when he's inside a coma. Our telephone call after I came home went by something like this(yes, you're returning to the present now, so)

  Good evening, sir Myroslav Bezruk. Do you perhaps want to come

  over tomorrow, near the mountain?

  "I'd like to друг, but I have a managing job if you had forgotten, and I have new morons to endure."

  You might be invited to my wedding

  "Well, why didn't you say so?"

  And he ended the call instantly. I spent the next 30 minutes staring at the telephone, confused, until his Subaru rolled up outside our apartment

  What are you doing here, idiot! I told you to come tomorrow, not right now! That was what I said immediately after opening the door. Of course, I didn't actually mean what I was saying

  "I know, дебил. I came here for other reasons", he said while chewing something in his mouth, as he always does, "Now, will you let me in or not?"

  Fine, come in... but don't eat everything before I even finish saying hello! Last time was your fourth, sir Bezruk

  "I won't. Well, anyway, where did you put the rulets today?"

  I sighed and led him to the kitchen, opened the 'sacred' drawer, and handed a few of my homemade rulets

  "Ohh...Miko. You must be really skilled at your doctor work to shove your baking mastery to the side."

  Really? This again? "A-

  "And I'm proud of it. If everyone there decides to be a hooligan and not respect your dedication, then I'll always be there for you. brat"

  Thank you, Myroslav. I swear, this man is the only one who can go from making you want to yeet him across half the federation to making you feel heartfelt in the same sentence

  I finally got to what I had been wanting to discuss with him, even if he did come over uninvited

  Alright, Myroslav...tomorrow's wedding. I want everything to be smooth. No unpleasant surprises, ok?

  He raised one of his thick eyebrows, smirking. "Smooth? I think that was thrown outside the window the second she forgot when your birthday is, брат."

  I know it's bad! But you just don't understand! You never even had a girlfriend to speak out of experience! I'm not really doing all of this for Mandukhai, but for Soyolma

  "You mean the little one watching 'Чебурашка!' in the other room? With him nodding his head to the living room, "Yeah, Mikola, between you and me, she could really go for a different mother. One who doesn't go through spontaneous combustion when a drink is spilled"

  Sigh. You think so?

  "Yes, Miko. You always have a choice; you always have had one. But since we both know you're going to do this wedding anyway, let's see how I can make you survive that place without one of her friends filing you for being too static"

  I always have a...choice? What?

  Myro, if there's one thing the 1990s taught me, it's that the universe never lets you choose; it forces obligations upon you.

  "Did the universe force you to leave the tavern last year? Did the universe force you to become a doctor? Did the universe force you to be a ridiculously good friend?" he said while slightly lying down in his seat, getting onto his third rulet

  I...uh-. Ok, maybe you're right

  "Never mind that, so who are the lucky ones coming tomorrow?"

  From her side, expect an army. But from mine, only you and a coworker are coming

  "Aha, so you want me to be as loud as possible so I can fill in the gaps for you"

  I laughed quietly. Correct, good thinking, sir Bezruk. Now, what could you bring other than yourself and your charm?

  "Charm? always. I'll bring dozens of bottles of kvass tomorrow. It's easy to bribe the other side to shut up with kvass. And well, whatever emergency tools a man needs to survive family events. I'll bring my crowbar

  I shook my head. You really are impossible

  "Yeah, but you'd collapse in 3 minutes by yourself, with me, you can survive for an extra...3 minutes!" Myroslav said, heading to the door. "Now, go make sure Soyolma's still alive in that cartoon, and I'll handle the rest. Пока!"

  Пока, Мирослав!

  "Hold up!" he shouted at the door frame

  That caught me so much by surprise that I had a jump scare

  Ah! You idiot!

  "Looks like you're moving out, huh?"

  He nodded to the stack of boxes at the entrance, the same ones he'd stepped around earlier without a word

  "Did you get tired of me? He said, then added quieter, "Or is it because of the gang, Miko?"

  First one? Maybe.

  About the gang... I don't even know if they're still operating or not. It's 2006, Myro.

  "Ahh, so neither", he said, What is it? other corner of Russia, or are you moving one block?" he added

  Your second guess is closer. Bravo. I'll be moving away from the center to near the hospital,

  And quite frankly, I'll be closer to your house

  "Now, you're within striking distance!"

  "Great," he grinned

  He went past the frame and spoke whilst looking away

  "Alright, Miko. I'll let you suffer in peace tonight"

  And he closed the door, but gently

  I thought about Myroslav for a bit. Behind all the threats he unloads onto me, there's always a sense of brotherhood and affection under the surface. Which I'll gladly take over fake kindness any day. But anyway, I checked up on Soyolma

  She was curled up on the couch, knees tucked in, eyes half-lidded but stubbornly open. The television cast a soft, flickering light across her face

  "Papa," she said without looking away. "Just this part."

  Alright, five minutes

  And those five minutes turned into her head leaning against my side, her making fewer comments and her breathing slowing. By the time I'd looked down at her again, she was asleep.

  I lifted her carefully to bed and tucked her in the way I always did, too carefully, like the world might crack if I rushed

  Sweet dreams, I whispered

  She didn't answer. Good.

  After all that, I wanted to head to sleep too. But Mandukhai still wasn't back with the army of relatives she's bringing over

  I sat back down on the living room couch. The television was still on.

  I flipped through channels, trying to find anything that'd keep me occupied for long enough. Until the screen changed, and the tone shifted. A familiar one. Too familiar

  The news

  I wasn't really watching until I was

  "Breaking news!! The notorious 'Красный Люди' gang was dismantled this morning on the morning of 22nd of September, 2006, on the outskirts of Chita. The gang leader was found in his hideout place..."

  I froze. My hands went slack. Relief, disbelief, something I hadn't felt in five years, passed down at me all at once. After five years of constantly looking over my shoulder, carrying myself in this town like a fort, not being allowed to get close to anyone, was this finally over?

  I looked back at the screen

  "One of their crimes includes a three-man assault on a bakery operator back in 2001 at Ust-Kamenka, to which the person has since sadly passed away"

  Looks like it worked, heh?

  My eyes gazed back again. The anchor continued, but my ears barely registered the word. Then, Vadim appeared on the screen. Haven't seen him in years...wait...VADIM?

  "None of this would've been possible without the bravery of Chief Artyomov and his team. Chief, what would you like to say?"

  "Thank you. It's an honour. While our work was to ensure the safety of all in Zabaykalsky Krai, I was personally motivated by one young but deeply hurt soul. A young Belarusian, my friend, Mikola"

  I shut the television off right there. No. This can't be real.

  Instead of spending the rest of the night watching television, like I thought I was, I spent it overthinking how different life would be from tomorrow. Before, I just thought I'd only be a husband in a minimalist house.

  But apparently, I can stop being 'Vladimir Kuznetsov' and be Mikola Vyachorka? Not just inside the home, but officially too? C-can I...contact them? After 17 years?

  B-but...what if it's a lie! What if one of them is in a hideout and catches me the day I start calling myself by my name in public? I think...I think I'll stick with Vladimir Kuznetsov...for now

  And then I heard a key jiggling through the door

  Gulp. Well...here it goes

  And there ends Mikola's part for chapter 5. Now, the reason why I took so damn long to pump this out is that I had accidentally deleted the original draft, which was like halfway done(yikes), and shortly after, I got dragged to a national olympiad against my own will, and I had school grades to worry about. But fear not, as I will leave updates for the siblings!

  Ever since Viktoriya returned from that 2004 Maslenitsa back in the town, her news spread through the other 2, and by extension, each had partially healed a seal the scar that was left from Mikola's supposed death. But it's just that the thing is, scars only fade and might go numb after a while, but they never heal

  During this time, Tatiana would start her small business outside her garage in Moscow after leaving the medical field, in the hope that she could finally start doing the thing she desired. She would latch on to that 1985 recording and watch it from time to time, just to remember what it felt like to have a united family together...the only surviving evidence of Mama, Papa, and Mikola that they once existed

  Viktoriya would have her second child soon after and move to Tyumen from Moscow for her job, leaving Tatiana a very sad goodbye, and reassuring her she'd be visiting often and not just during holidays

  Meanwhile, Isaak would struggle to find a love partner. He joined the Russian Volleyball Federation in 2006, and frequently goes around the federation for his matches. Whenever his fellow members ask for his backstory, he would always say

  "My younger брат and I would join the big kids at the court, and they would teach us their best techniques. I remember us being so terrible at first, but after enough time, we began to beat them every time! Heh...good times. Shame really that he's gone. I bet Mikola would be so proud of me"

  THE END(duh)