A few of the dudes from Serebro Events knocked on the door at 9 in the morning to take me to the wedding site so they could organise the place the way we wanted. Mandukhai argued to go instead of me, insisting she'd be more 'responsible' or 'competent', but then a sudden thunderous snore erupted from one of the army of guests she had taken home, and she decided it'd be best for her to take responsibility at home

  The sun had barely risen above the hill when I, a clipboard in hand, oversaw the finishing touches at the site. Serebro Events staff flitted around, arranging lanterns, stacking pillows in corners, and draping fabric so that everything would feel at home and warm. I stepped back, looked around, and was satisfied with my work. And I thought to myself

  It was a miracle that I came here to supervise instead of Mandukhai. She would have probably just arranged the bare minimum just so it could feel "safe". And besides, I didn't want to be dealing with a bunch of douchebags all morning who thought that drinking 2 glasses of vodka before an event the next morning would be a fantastic idea. I mean-

  thump

  It wasn't loud, just a subtle thud against something metal

  Is someone here already?

  I turned my head around. It must be Valentina-...Olga?

  And there she was, standing just outside her Honda Accord, which up until now I didn't know she had. Dressed in a modest but stylish soft blue dress that fell past her knees, flat heels, a silver necklace with a small cross, and her hair neatly tied back. She clearly cared about putting effort into it, elegant even

  And yet, she still tried not to seem noticed

  You look...fabulous, Olga! But... I trailed off, trying to hide my surprise

  "Hmm, thank you," she spoke with a slight smile, cutting me off in that usual, gentle way

  I don't think I invited you, have I? I tried again

  She spoke softly, "Long story short, but Valentina insisted on my coming."

  Sigh, of course she would

  I turned around to the arrangement

  Well...I had been arranging this area with these guys since morning

  She nodded

  We surveyed the little chaos of colour, fabric, and symbols Serebro Events had stirred up. Everything was lived-in and warm, exactly what I had envisioned

  Olga gestured with her hand at something

  "That light over there is beautiful," she commented, "but maybe adding a few candles would make it warmer."

  Ah, good call, Olga!

  For some time, Olga suggested to me a few things, and we heavily rearranged the periphery for a more 'inviting look.'

  "This little corner feels too flat," she murmured, straightening a tiny bouquet of wildflowers that had been leaning against the vase. I watched her hands work, and I couldn't help but notice how every tiny shift, every gentle nudge of adjustment made the space suddenly more alive, more...personal

  You really didn't need to help, you know? I asked

  "Я знаю," she grinned, "And it looks like I don't have a seat here, does it?"

  Pff, don't worry, I'll go ask an idiot friend I have

  I turned around to face the woods and dialed the only person I could trust for this kind of thing on my Siemens

  I immediately heard keys clinking

  "Yes, I'm leaving. And let me guess, something went wrong," said Myroslav, slightly out of breath

  Exactly. About your 'emergency kit', you're bringing

  "Mhm..." he cut in

  I think a chair, a Coca-Cola, and another kvass could be added to that list

  "Ahh, I see. Fine, I'll go back to the garage for a folding chair. Coke? Check. Kvass? Check. First aid kit? Check. Crowbar? Check.

  Huh?

  "Alright then, lucky boy, I'll be coming in about 25 minutes. You'd better survive until then."

  Promise.

  I lowered the telephone and stayed there, looking at the scene while taking in the morning air. It was sharp, clean, and honest.

  That's when I saw a lone fox near a tree. It stood frozen, its body tense, tail twitching once before going still. Its snout was trapped inside a dented tin can, and each attempt it made to get it off only made it worse

  I didn't think. I just moved

  Slowly, one step at a time. No sudden movements. Just patience. The fox backed away at first, panic rattling the can, but I stopped immediately, lowered myself, and waited. Eventually, it stilled

  I reached out carefully, my knuckles brushed past soft fur at first, then they met harsh metal. It resisted at first, but then, slowly but surely, the can slid off

  The fox didn't give gratitude; it gave me a glimpse of its amber eyes for a second before running off to wherever it had business in

  My lips formed a slight smile. I looked at my wrist first for the time; it was around 11:15. Then I turned back to the arrangement, still holding that smile. The sun had risen past the clouds, and it wasn't windy anymore

  I inhaled to take the morning air in, Природа прекрасна

  Then my eyes shifted to Olga, almost without noticing it myself, wondering what she had been doing

  She was crouched near one of the lantern stands, carefully re-tying a loose ribbon that had slipped down that had slipped down the pole.

  And past her, I saw a familiar black car winding its way up the hill

  That must be Valentina! I said out loud, to which Olga got startled

  She parked alongside Olga's car, and there she came out

  Dressed in a dark forest green midi dress, fitted at the waist and flowing below. Not fancy, but undeniably deliberate, wearing low heels, a tailored coat draped over her shoulders, and with a golden bracelet. Her black hair was loosely pinned back.

  Hey...Valentina, I said, scratching my forehead, you could've told me you were bringing Olga over. I had to ask a guest for 'emergency supplies.'

  "You're welcome, Зелёное сердце", she smiled, "And don't pretend like you didn't enjoy solving it."

  Her deep ocean eyes then gazed towards Olga

  "I didn't know Serebro Events hired a miracle worker."

  Then it slid back to me

  "Or Тихая вода has been busy."

  Well...I suppose you're right, Valentina, I muttered

  Then I heard leaves crunching behind us

  I turned around, and there were a few of the staff

  "Sir! We need your help with setting up the items on the table."

  Ah, got it!

  I followed them to the dining table and guided them through it. Mandukhai had handed me the list of her side's names the other day. So one by one, we assigned a seat to each guest. Then we adjusted the placements of each dining plate, napkins, basic utensils, and a Coca-Cola.

  As we were writing down each one's name and sticking them behind their assigned seats, the corner of my eye caught the two. I couldn't exactly hear them speaking clearly, but I could see Olga occasionally tilting her head, and Valentina's exaggerated gestures told me the younger woman was being scolded and secretly enjoying it. Then Valentina spoke faintly, but loud enough for me to hear

  "Тихая вода...any idea about why Зелёное сердце doesn't have any alcohol there? Didn't he say the other side is 'very unpleasant'?"

  "Он просто такой(he just doesn't like it)" Olga spoke quietly, "He likes clarity"

  I smirked. It looks like she did notice me being an abstainer.

  We stuck a guy's name, called "Аругтай," behind one of the seats and got to the last of Mandukhai's side. Dedushka and Babushka.

  One staff member drew out two large pieces of paper and a pen to write

  "What are their names, sir?'

  I sighed. I'll take it from here. You go rest

  He hesitated for a second before saying, "Alright, sir, thank you," before walking to one of his friends

  I wrote their names, neatly

  'Бэликто(Belikto)', 'Саран(Saran)'

  The wind suddenly picked up, tugging the paper as if it didn't want to stay

  I picked up the two sheets and walked to the most open area, spacious, with a clear view, and the closest to my side

  There were 2 seats without a name, already lined up

  Perfect! I whispered

  I chose the 2 most central ones and stuck their name. But for some reason, the tape wouldn't stick. Their names slipped free again and again, until I finally had to ask Serebro Events for a proper pad

  The two seats had their items placed too far. And judging from how they were like last night. Slower, quieter, I moved everything closer. I looked at the 2 cans of Coca-Cola and thought they just weren't right, so I decided to replace them with black chay instead; it felt more honest.

  Then, from the corner of my eye, I saw a blue Subaru pull up. Of course, I expected Myro to walk out of that vehicle, probably wielding something ridiculous in his hands and chewing on something he shouldn't be before a wedding.

  But that's not what happened.

  "ПАПААА!"

  Soyolma came sprinting out of the car

  I kneeled and absorbed her. I caught her without thinking

  I sighed. Of course, you would

  "What?" he giggled, "The little one called me over."

  I looked up to see the same tall, bulky, and undeniably puzzling man I have been treating like my brother for years. But this time, in a formal dark charcoal suit, no tie, jacket worn open, and the top button of his shirt undone, if he had lost the argument early.

  A folding chair rested under one arm

  A crowbar under the arm

  I spoke first. I have so many questions.

  'Good", he said, clearly pleased ."When you were busy scavenging through your 'sacred' drawer last night, I may have given her my number so I could do some 'hero duties'."

  And how did you...

  "Ah! I took advantage of her situation to bring the little one."

  Of course you would, I repeated, pulling Soyolma in closer

  Myroslav then went past me, unfolded the chair, and placed it on the edge of the long running table. He saw his name written on a nearby seat

  He let out an audible "hm," and placed his crowbar on his seat

  He then turned around and studied the entire arrangement

  "I see, Miko," his voice intrigued. "You decided to make this place all warm and authentic so you can distract your in-laws from jumping at you."

  He then turned his head around to face me

  "And I like it!" he added, quieter. "Keep doing you, брат."

  Behind him, Valentina separated from Olga and slowly walked towards the tall, broad-shouldered man.

  She initiated the conversation, "You must be the one who taught Mikola to work hard."

  Myroslav slowly turned around to face her while saying

  "You'd be wrong," he said calmly. "I only unlocked what was already there. But yes, I'll take the credit."

  Valentina then studied him for a second longer and gave a slow nod

  "That tracks," she said, "He works like someone who was trusted before he was taught."

  "Mhm" was what Myroslav said before straying off towards the Serebo Events staff who were just about to leave.

  Valentina watched him talk to them to have an 'idea' of who he is

  Valentina kept her eyes on him, trying to understand the mysteries that lay beneath him. Myroslav made a bunch of gestures with his hands, pointed a dozen times, and flailed his arms around. It suggested that whatever he was doing was casual manner with authority. Then he walked towards the driver, gestured with one arm, and stepped back.

  Valentina commented, “Is she always like this?”

  Always, I replied, watching him carefully.

  Valentina’s eyes didn’t leave him. “I do not remember us talking about the staff remaining.”

  Huh? What could you mean by that? She gestured subtly, and I followed her head.

  Two of the guys were standing there, frozen, and locked on an overly expressive Myroslav in front of them. The truck, which I had expected to be nearby, was nowhere to be seen. Valentina then approached him again, her eyes narrowed slightly as if trying to decode each one of his gestures. I watched as her face had curiosity written all over it. Meanwhile, a new pair of footsteps greeted my ears. I hadn’t realized I relaxed my shoulders after Myroslav came.

  “So…Mikola. Is this the guy with the accent you talk to on the phone?” Olga’s voice echoed from a few steps behind me.

  I tried to answer, Well…uhh

  “Yes! He’s mr Bezruk, Papa’s best friend!” shouted a little Soyolma still clinging to my side like she always did.

  I couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking my head slightly. This chaotic morning, followed by a delicate and surprisingly heartfelt decor. For a day I had been dreading for weeks, it was going surprisingly well, too well to be true…

  “Do you know what the time is…” Olga suddenly snapped me back to my reality.

  Ah, good call! I said, almost instantly. I checked my wrist, and it read 11:52.

  “I-I wasn’t done with my question.”

  Hmm? Olga gulped, and she looked like she was trying to spit out something she’d been holding in for a while; she couldn’t form her words, and her face was flushed red. This was something bigger than her

  I reached out for her shoulder. Hey, it’s going to be alright, Olya, you can take your time, I won’t judge.

  Olga swallowed again, her hands trembling lightly at her sides. “I…I just… um…” Her voice trembled. I hadn’t seen her like this ever since the day she collapsed at me.

  I gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. Hey, Olya, it’s fine. You can say whatever you want. No rush. Almost repeating my previous words

  And that’s when she suddenly wrapped her arms around me and gave me a tight squeeze. There wasn’t this trembling feeling in her body anymore.

  “Большое спасибо, спасибо за все.” Her arms felt light but firm, as if she were trying to hold onto something she had lost long ago. And in that moment, I understood, it wasn’t just a hug, it was a confession of trust, relief, or something I didn't dare name

  For a moment, we were almost level. My chin was just above her forehead, and her hair brushed against my cheek. But I didn't flinch, I didn't move. I let her have the moment. My hands hovered in the air before coming back to hug her back, just slightly

  You d-don't have to thank me, I said quietly

  She didn't answer. But her grip loosened on its own, slowly, like someone walking from a long, safe sleep. She stepped back, grabbed a cloth nearby, and wiped her eyes with it

  I pretended to not notice my shirt's collar was damp

  A pause settled between us, thin and fragile, like the air after something heavy passed through it. Then someone cleared their voice behind us gravel crunched nearby to the tables

  "Why'd you bring a crowbar over? What are you going to do with it?", Valentina grinned

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Myroslav responded with his usual terror, "Just in case someone here doesn't know how to take care of their vehicles, obviously"

  Myroslav showed her the crowbar to let her see how 'capable' it is before walking to me

  "Hey...shouldn't the army be here by now?"

  I glanced at the valley off in the distance, and the soft strains of instruments drifted from the edge of the hill as the musicians arrived, lugging cases and carefully tuning as they walked.

  My eyes flickered over each of them

  Place the chairs there, leave the stands by the table center...eh...perfect

  Valentina leaned near Olga, whispering, "He notices everything, doesn't he?"

  Olga just nodded faintly, still a little breathless from earlier, her hands twisting at the edge of her dress.

  Myroslav, being Myroslav, had already somehow borrowed a trembita from one of the musicians to have a 'try'

  The musician was nice enough to help out a bit. Myroslav played terribly at first, but as he was guided, he actually got a rhythm going

  "Haha! I learned this back when I was a lad!" he shouted out, maybe a bit too excited

  He quickly gathered an audience, and now people were understanding why he sounds like he's choking on sunflower seeds

  At first, I didn't join them; I stayed where I was. Staring into the valley down, waiting for a trace of dust, a pattern of black rectangles to appear. Any sign

  Soyolma then suddenly tugged at my arms

  "Papa, come here! Uncle Myro is amazing!"

  I reluctantly agreed and decided to walk over to a crowd of musicians in dark trousers and white shirts around a long, brown, pointy thing sticking out from the middle. Olga and Valentina were already among them

  Myroslav then lowered the long trembita stick. He gave a crooked little bow, more habit than ceremony.

  There was a brief pause, then a loud applause followed

  He thanked the crowd with a small smile, but it faltered. His eyes welled up, and he turned slightly aside, wiping them with his sleeve.

  "В?н би так пишався," he muttered quietly

  Then a short young man spoke gently

  "Sir...you're from Ukraine, aren't you?'

  Myroslav slowly turned around to face him, still thinking about something

  "Так, я з Укра?ни"

  He paused, then stepped back slightly

  "Да… я из Украины."

  There was a pause for a second before he broke it himself

  "I was born in '74, in Lviv. My family's from Transcarpathia, near the Romanian border"

  He looked up and wiped all his tears away, then continued

  "I grew up running through narrow streets and wide fields alike," Myroslav said, letting his gaze drift toward the valley as if seeing it all at once. "In Lviv, the air smells of coffee and fresh bread. In Transcarpathia, it's drenched in smells of pine and smoke from chimneys."

  The sun rose just high enough to stay sharp in the sky, shining down at Myroslav's brown hair to make it glow in a rich golden-copper tone, his hazel eyes illuminated a faint, lush green at their core, surrounded by brown at its edges. It reminded me of the time we are at right now, autumn

  He glanced down at the trembita in his hands, then back at the guests

  "Music is everywhere here. Weddings, funerals, evenings by the fire...someone always finds a flute, a drum, a fiddle. You learn quickly: the louder you play, the more joy you share. That's how I ran barefoot through the snow and kept pace with a dozen other kids who refused to stop, no matter how cold it got

  A small smile appeared. "And yet," he went on, softer now, "as much as I love my homeland, I appreciate what Russia has given me. This land gave me life. A career. A purpose"

  He glanced up at the sky for a second, then at me

  "But most importantly, friends. Those kind who stay when things fall apart. Who builds something with you from nothing? And who," he added, smirking faintly, "still refuse to open their 'sacred' drawer for me"

  A ripple of laughter moved through the crowd, warm and unforced, like a shared breath finally released

  After the horde of chuckling had settled down, Valentina stepped forward with the same rhythm she carried back at work

  "I'm glad," she said, steady and assured, "that you managed to find your piece in my homeland."

  There was no handshake, no intimacy, just a mutual nod out of respect. Acknowledged and complete

  In the other corner of my eye, I saw another musician passing down her violin gently to a familiar little girl covered in bright silk patterns

  Even if I knew Soyolma is an alien to musical instruments. She probably doesn't even know how to hold any. I let her have a try

  As expected, she held the bow wrong and nearly broke one of the strings

  Careful! Soyolma, you just nearly broke it! You-

  Then something suddenly pounded on my chest; it stung hard, and I couldn't finish my sentence. I let out a groan from pain

  Soyolma gasped; she nearly dropped the violin, "What's wrong, papa!! are y-you alright?..."

  I coughed, yeah, I'm fine. I'm sorry for earlier

  I gently took the violin from her hands and placed it on my right

  A familiar, high, muted voice screeched, "WAIT!"

  I looked at the source of the sound, and Olga was running towards me

  "W-what about your arm?

  I froze for half a second.

  My left arm hung a little slower than the right, fingers loose, uncooperative in a way I hadn't noticed until she said it out loud

  It's nothing!, I started while shifting the violin entirely to my right

  Olga was already beside me. She didn't touch me yet. Just looked, eyes sharp, and taking in my posture

  "You didn't brace," she said quietly. Not a question, "And you flinched late."

  Soyolma stared between us, clutching the hem of her silk dress. "Papa...?"

  I forced a smile on her. Don't worry, доча. Papa's fine

  She stared at my eyes with the same emerald eyes she inherited from me. She knew I wasn't telling the truth

  Olga shouted from behind my ears, "Mikola...maybe you should."

  I sighed. Well...Soyolma, let me teach you how to play violin

  Soyolma hesitated, then nodded, stepping closer as afraid I might disappear if she didn't

  I crouched slightly to get to her level. Like this, I said, guiding her fingers around the neck of the violin, careful, deliberate. My right hand did most of the work. The left followed, slower, obedient enough

  It's not about strength, or pulling as many strings as you can, I added, more to myself than to her. It's about listening, delicacy, rhythm, not going big

  A few people nearby started to notice. The musicians paused mid-sentence

  Soyolma then suddenly but quietly asked, "Can you play it, Papa, can you show me it?"

  I hesitated. I only knew how to hold this thing. The last time I played violin must've been back in Tatiana's music room, back in Borza, another life ago

  Soyolma looked at me with those eyes. So I had to give in

  Хорошо, дочка, this is how you do it

  I drew the bone once, experimentally. The note held, thin at first, then steady

  Another followed. Then another

  I let old, washed training take over. The melody took shape slowly, familiar in a way people couldn't place. Not impressive, just true

  My feet moved before I thought about it. Slowly, my body turned toward the hill ahead, my back settling against the open valley below

  One by one, the musicians began drifting closer, drawn in without being called

  Then came Valentina and Myroslav, stopping just behind the half-circle, saying nothing, watching the same way they always did, as if measuring what this moment would cost

  "Since when were you a violinist!?" Myroslav's voice echoed, half laughing and half accusing

  I didn't answer. I was still processing how such simple tutoring from nearly twenty 20 years ago could stay buried, intact, waiting.

  Soyolma slowly tiptoed her way in front of me to get a clearer view of me, astonished herself. Not just watching the violin, but me

  Valentina saw her and brightened

  "Aha! There you were, little one!" she called out enthusiastically, already zipping her purse open. "I've been looking for you"

  She rummaged briefly before pulling out a small teddy bear,

  Soyolma gasped, took it with both hands, and thanked her earnestly. It made a few people nearby smile. She gave it a name almost instantly.

  And I was just glad she was happy

  I looked back up to focus on what's in front of me. All the musicians were chattering about their personal experiences and this upcoming ceremony, Olga quietly observing my handwork with the strings, but locked into my left arm, and the sun had now risen fully. Warm. Steady

  All was going well

  Then Myroslav instantly dropped his smile and stiffened his body so suddenly it almost felt mechanical

  He gazed for a few seconds at something, or someone behind us. Then, without a word, he raised his wrist to his eyes, the leather strap creaking softly

  He cleared his throat, "The last time I checked, a bride isn't supposed to come 20 minutes late to her own wedding."

  Then I heard it, I heard the sound of multiple car doors closing hard, Soyolma slowly drifted behind me at the sound of her

  Soyolma...

  She looked down and crouched, almost as if she was somehow trying to go invisible

  A lightning strike from afar, and the sky was now suddenly shrouded in darkness

  Then she spoke, but the voice didn't come out of her

  "Sir, may I have my violin back? The performance will start now."

  Oh...of course!, I said, already handing it over

  "You play amazingly, sir," she smiled

  I nodded faintly. Thank you, but really, it was nothing much-

  "MIKOLA!!"

  I slowly turned around, and it was her

  Mandukhai held my suit in front of her. Her brows were furrowed, and her eyes narrowed

  "Come here. Change. Now!!"

  Yes...Alright," I replied, keeping my voice low, so that this couldn't escalate even farther

  But that's not what happened anyway

  I took one step

  "НЕТ-“

  The sound tore out of Myroslav like something breaking

  "ТЫ.”

  His finger was already pointed at Mandukhai

  He walked towards her, but not with that easy, joking rhythm he always carried. This time, his movements were stiff and deliberate

  I tried to stop him, and I took a few steps

  And my foot caught on something small and unforgiving

  I hit the ground hard. Pain flared up in my right side, sharp enough to cause agony. I tried to push myself up, but my shoulder screamed in protest, and my left arm was useless for this kind of thing. My knees had also hit the ground bluntly with maximum force

  I had no choice. I had to stay down and listen to what I couldn't bear to hear; the two most important people in my life were about to clash with each other

  "You don't get to talk to MY брат like that!", his voice was slightly cooled down, but only slightly

  beat

  "Не сегодня, или никогда.”

  Mandukhai crossed her arms, "And he is my husband, what exactly is your point?"

  Usually, that tone would shut the conversation down, but it's not me...

  "Don't lie to yourself," Myroslav said flatly

  He sighed, not out of relief, but something else

  "You were never his 'wife' or his 'girlfriend' or whatever label you like to put on yourself. You never loved him; you always used him. Remove him from the hospital and stability equation and you'll abandon him the next day."

  She said nothing

  "Remember this, Mandukhai," he continued, quieter now

  "Я тебя не ненавижу"

  “But the way you'd ask Mikola for his numbers instead of him every month"

  He looked away for a second

  "Это не по-человечески. And I hope no one will ever do that to Mikola again"

  Mandukhai froze for quite a while. She looked back at her relatives

  They were already approaching. Each step taken in unison, each with their fists clenched

  But they weren't going for Mandukhai; they walked past her towards him

  Myroslav did not flinch one bit

  "What now!? What are you going to do now, Mandukhai? Kill me?-"

  "ХВАТИТ!! ИДИОТЫ," but that came out slow and weak.

  Each one of her relatives froze at once, a gap formed in the middle, and it was advancing forward

  About 10 seconds later, the one behind the voice finally emerged from the crowd to face Mandukhai

  Babushka

  "Я думала," she spoke, not with fury or rage, but her voice was low and deeply monotone

  "When me and your Dedushka would leave you behind with Mikola, you'd finally start treating your own man like a human being."

  Mandukhai started shaking

  "Ну…"

  "Don't interrupt your grandmother!" said Dedushka emerging from the crowd in a wheelchair

  I looked at him with all the strength I had; he had a cast on his left arm, and he had gone completely bald. Meanwhile, I noticed a few hands on my back trying to pull me up. But I didn't budge, I was simply too focused on what was going on ahead

  Babushka went on, "After everything I hammered into your head, after every time I had tried to get soft with you, after everything I have tried to submerge that in you."

  Mandukhai fell to her knees on the grass below and began weeping

  For some reason, her doing that didn't really trigger anything in me; to me, it just felt like someone fell to their knees, and not my wife. And Babushka?

  She didn't show a muscle of remorse for what was in front of her, and she finally ended the conversation

  "You have not changed one bit since the day you came to our old farm promising to 'improve'."

  Mandukhai then collapsed on the grass below, and she cried uncontrollably. Babushka waited for her to stand up instead of helping her get up, then demanded all of her children and grandchildren to get behind the cars for an 'important talk.'

  Slowly but surely, they walked away and disappeared behind the array of vehicles in the distance

  Myroslav kept his intense stare at the crowd until they had all gone out of sight. He took a long deep breath

  "Микола, во что ты вляпался?," he whispered to himself

  Then I saw Soyolma sprinting towards the tables

  Then I felt even more hands wrap around me

  "Alright, everyone, 3. 2. 1. Давай!!", Valentina's voice broke through

  Myroslav finally took his eyes off from where Mandukhai once was and turned to face us, a breathy chuckle still in his throat

  "Давай?? What secret hidden talent have you shown off now, Miko..."

  Then he saw me. The colour drained from his face

  "MIKO!!"

  A broad, warm weight pressed under my chest, firm but gentle, the kind only Olga could manage without crushing me or letting me slump.

  "Держись крепце, мой дорогой." she whispered to my ear, low and steady

  I couldn't help but smile at that. It was nice hearing someone being genuinely kind to me

  Nearby, two figures in bulky clothing awkwardly held my torso and legs, their grip stiff and hesitant. Valentina's smaller hands adjusted their placement, pressing lightly for extra support

  Once Olga had hold of me, the frantic hands around us stilled

  She held very tightly, and she gently spoke near my ear again, "Готовы?"

  Да…

  "Ладно. 3. 2. 1. Давай!"

  She groaned softly, but slowly, and surely, I was lifted from the ground, and the grass no longer pressed against my face

  She noticed Soyolma running back to us with a chair, but not just any chair, that specific folding chair Myroslav had brought for her earlier

  Without a single word, Olga held me upright all by herself until Soyolma set it down

  "Ну вот, той свет," she murmured, lowering me into it with careful precision

  Olga softly touched my right shoulder to feel the swell, and then she gently pressed against my cheek before running off somewhere, to around where her car was placed

  About 5 seconds later, Myroslav came to my side, panting loudly. But that didn't matter to him

  "What happened to you...брат?

  I looked at his legs, and they were shivering intensely, but it isn't cold outside, though

  I opened my mouth to answer, but nothing useful came out. My left jaw felt tight, like it belonged to someone else

  I slipped, something finally came out of me. Я в порядке

  Myroslav crouched in front of me, and he noticed my right shoulder was uneven and lying low compared to the other. But he didn't keep his eyes there for long

  "Your face is pale," he muttered

  Only then did it hit me. A dull, spreading pressure that turned sharp when I breathed in just a bit longer. It hurt as something had moved inside it when it shouldn't have

  Soyolma sat beside me on the dirt, her hands holding the legs of the chair. Her voice shaking, "Papa... why didn't you tell me?"

  I couldn't excuse myself. I couldn't lie again. I had to do what felt right at the moment

  I concentrated away from pain, and it just came out. Flowing. Naturally

  Доча, I just wanted what's best for you. I didn't want you to have a father who's fragile, vulnerable, and gets stopped hard by the smallest things

  She finally stopped looking down, and she slowly tilted her head to meet me, eye-eye

  And... I just wanted you to have someone you could look up to.

  Soyolma's fingers tightened around the chair legs

  "Papa..."

  She hesitated, like she was afraid I'd disappear if she said the wrong words

  "I don't want you to be... strong"

  I closed my eyes

  "I want you to be here."

  I couldn't respond, I just couldn't. What I had been forcing upon myself for 10 years has just collapsed like that, and from her again

  I opened my eyes and looked around. Myroslav was hovering around, and he was just as speechless as I was

  She gulped, then added

  "When you fell, I didn't think you were weak."

  Her eyes glistened

  "I was just scared."

  I didn't even try answering back this time; it was just too much.

  The wind passed through the valley, tugging at dresses, music stands, and loose fabric.

  I heard a car's engine running in the distance. It was neither approaching nor disappearing. It was just there, stationary

  I noticed that my shirt collar got damp again. But then it was the button, and then the top.

  It had begun raining

  Somewhere, metal clicked as a musician packed away a case

  For the first time in god knows how long, I wasn't able to get back, not even while sitting

  Then, from the corner of my eye, a small red car slowly entered our line of sight

  It took a 45-degree turn to face us, and the valley below

  Olga exited her vehicle, but she was now wearing a coat on top of her blue dress

  Without any hesitation, she walked straight towards Myroslav, who was essentially frozen in time

  "Let's carry him to my car," she said calmly, "He'll get wet!"

  Myroslav suddenly jumped and nearly fell over

  "АМРОВСИ!"

  Olga looked at him, slightly tilting her head

  "Oh," he said, still panting from earlier

  "Let's do it, извините за ранее."

  "Don't be," she replied, already moving

  They both came back to me. Olga warned Myroslav about avoiding touching my right shoulder entirely. Eventually, after Valentina's guidance, they would hold me horizontally with Myroslav at my feet and Olga under my chest

  Both held me up carefully as they could. Then Myroslav cleared his throat. Twice

  “I go away for 5 minutes, and you get injured in 5 different places." half concerned, half disbelief

  They moved me toward the red car. Olga maneuvered first, guiding me down into the back seat behind the driver’s side, adjusting my position with surprising gentleness for someone who could probably deadlift a refrigerator. Myroslav folded my legs in carefully, like he was tucking in a stubborn blanket

  Valentina passed between them, heels clicking against wet gravel. She glanced at me for a few seconds. Then she spoke

  "Зелёное сердце, I need you to tell me how you feel, понятно?"

  Понял

  She took off my jacket, and she very slowly and delicately rolled up the sleeve of my t-shirt

  As soon as she got to see my right shoulder, Valentina immediately stilled

  Her fingers didn't touch it at first; they hovered, eyes narrowing, the way they always did when something didn't match what she wanted to see

  "...Чёрт," she murmured under her breath

  She finally pressed lightly just below the point. A sharp bolt through me, and I gasped before I could stop myself

  "Этого достаточно," she said at once, pulling her hand back

  She turned her head toward Olga and gave her that look. The other immediately got the gesture and rushed to the driver's seat

  I was confused. I mean, yeah, it hurt, but there is no way it could be that bad. Right??

  Just as I was about to ask that exact question, Valentina looked back at me one last time, sighed, and shut the door close.

  I peeked through the window, and Valentina and Myroslav were standing face to face

  Icouldn't hear them talking, but all I know is that Myroslav started to look down at his feet, arms on his waist, and Soyolma was already latched onto one of his sides

  Then the engine roared

  Wait. Olya...Where are we going??

  She didn't answer. Olga pulled forward before I added anything. Gravel cracked under the tires. The rain streaked across the windshield in uneven lines, blurring the valley ahead of us until it started to look less real and more like a painting

  Right as we got to the bumpy part going down that would meet the wet asphalt ahead, she slowed and leaned slightly forward in the window, scanning the grass beside the road

  While she accessed the slope, I caught sight of a Subaru and a Land Cruiser approaching from above

  Olga eased the car forward again, choosing the narrower path along the side instead of risking the shorter but steep, broken section

  Then I tried again

  Olya, gentler this time. Where are we-

  “The hospital,” she said. Flat. Immediate

  She then wiped the mirror, adjusted it, and glanced at me

  Her eyes didn't look scared

  They look...focused and intrigued. The same blue eyes painted in deep frozen blue that had once stared at me deeply on that one stormy morning when she'd come back on a cold floor and the world had narrowed to breathing and staying upright

  “You're shaking," she said

  I’m fine, I replied automatically

  She then looked at me again, without blinking

  "You don't get to decide that alone," she said. "Не сегодня."

  Silence followed again. By the time I would realize it, the town was already in sight and getting larger and larger

  I looked past it at first, but Olga suddenly began to look up at the car ceiling, then at me, then at the road, then back at the ceiling, and repeat all as her face was starting to harden. It looked like she was trying to say something, and I was starting to get worried about what was bogging her down like this

  So, I did what I thought was best for her and myself; I broke the silence

  "Что… вас беспокоит, Олья?"

  That's when her eyes stopped wandering around and lay on the wheel again

  Then she exhaled through her nose, slow and controlled

  "I'm deciding whether to say something," she said

  Her fingers gripped the wheel before they relaxed

  "I don't do that often," she added. "I'd rather keep things to myself."

  The town lights slid across the window. Myroslav's tavern blurred past

  She glanced at me once, quick, assessing, then back to the road

  “You don't have to answer this," she immediately reassured before even saying it

  “But I just need to say it, to you, once."

  My head was slightly tilted, but I thought it'd be better if I gave her this moment

  Uhh, alright then, Olga, go ahead. I won't judge, I promise. You're safe with me

  "And that exactly has been the cause of it."

  She kept driving

  W-what do you mean...Olya?

  "There's something about you."

  She said after a moment of staring down at the wheel. Not rushed. Not fragile, just factual

  "The way you listen. The way you give others space, the way you stay when people speak, even when they don't know how to finish their thoughts."

  I wasn't shocked. I knew this about myself, Mama had raised me right, but hearing it from her landed differently

  She took a left turn around the roundabout to the town centre.

  Olga looked at me in the mirror again. But this time, they were softer. Wider. The exact pair I remember staring at me for so long on that faithful day

  "You don't offer advice when asked for. You never ask for anything back."

  A brief pause

  "You just... give. Time. Care. Safety."

  The hospital's corner started to become visible, and it continuously grew in size.

  "I've seen too many people who think they are kind," she continued. "Most of them are just loud."

  Her left hand reached out, feeling around beneath the passenger seat

  I followed her motion without thinking

  "But you? You're quiet. And that somehow reaches deeper depths."

  The white cap of an ibuprofen bottle caught the dashboard light as she pulled it free

  She didn't look at me when she spoke

  "Your left arm's been bad for years," she said, after a breath.

  "I noticed."

  Her fingers slightly tightened around the bottle. Behind where it once stood, I managed to have a glimpse of a wide red scarf she never used, and what I thought was my old water tank

  "Just that..." she hesitated, then steadied herself. "I couldn't help myself."

  Now, that knocked me out cold. She...noticed. And for that long?

  She brought painkillers and a warm, comfy scarf for me. And I never asked her to.

  And she still uses that tank?

  "You know...," Olga said, eyes still on the road, voice steady again

  "If there's a day you don't feel like holding everything together, or if you just want to...you don't have to do it alone."

  A pause, then a small smile

  She finally looked at me. And not from her mirror this time, she turned her head around to face me.

  "Я здесь. Ты можешь мне доверять"

  I swallowed, somehow, just hearing her say that made my chest feel lighter, even with the pain screaming against me

  Before I could ever think of a response, literally anything, Olga slowed the car down, and the windshield calmed down

  "We're here."

  The hospital entrance lights flared ahead of us, bright and unavoidable.

  I looked outside the window

  Valentina and Myroslav were already walking towards the car with a bed with wheels in leading ahead of them.

  Olga leaned slightly closer, her voice calm but probing. "Ты доверяешь мне?"

  I let the words settle, then whispered back, Да…я поставраюсь

  And for the first time in years, I felt it. I mean, besides my bruised right shoulder, my legs and left arm screaming in pain, but something inside me, my heart. That letting someone in didn't make me weak. It made me whole

  I'm finally starting to understand what Mama had told me over 12 years ago.

  "Поделитесь своей душой с людьми, которые поделятся своей, сынок."

  Phew, just like that, chapter 6 is over. It didn't have any production disasters like the last few times but it still felt challenging to write because I had big plans here and I wanted to fully just take myself inside the story and breathe the same air as Mikola would do. But I'd be lying if I were to say I didn't absolutely ENJOYED my time. For Olga specifically, I poured all my mental strength to it and let me know if hers worked out