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What I saw inside shattered my heart.
Helena sat on a small bed, her face bruised, and her nose swollen. Her once-tidy hair was now a mess, and her bloodshot eyes showed the pain and exhaustion she’d been through.
My heart sank seeing her like that, and a lump formed in my throat.
This was all my fault.
She looked up, her eyes meeting mine hesitantly.
I wanted to slap myself.
Are you okay?
Really, Sofiya?
Obviously, she wasn’t.
Who would be after being kidnapped, beaten, and probably emotionally abused?
She had always been strong, composed, and confident. Seeing her so low, so sad and exhausted, made the lump in my throat grow larger.
She didn’t say a word but patted the side of the bed, inviting me to sit.
I closed the door, shutting out the cold, and sat beside her.
The soft glow of the candle on the bedside table lit up our faces.
She took my hands, kissed my knuckles, her tears wetting my skin.
“I’m leaving,” I whispered, my breath shaky. “I’m going back home.”
Home.
Funny how that word used to mean so much. It was a place of comfort, familiarity, and love. But now, it feels like a distant memory.
I didn’t even know where home was anymore.
San Francisco, the city I once called home, is calling me back.
Yet, deep down, I know it won’t be the same.
It’ll be missing an essential piece—my mama.
She was the heart and soul of our home, making every corner warm and inviting even when we were at each other’s throats.
Without her, going back to San Francisco feels like stepping into a hollow shell, a place that once held cherished memories but now lacks the life that made it special.
It’s like a part of me will be missing too.
“Volk said he won’t touch you. He said you have to stay in Russia, but he promised me he will take care of you,” I continued as she remained silent. “I won’t be staying in San Francisco for long; I just need to finish my exams, and then I’ll move to New York.”
The thought of exams almost made me laugh. With everything happening, it was hard to believe my degree still mattered.
But in a way, it gave me a sliver of hope and purpose.
Despite the chaos, having something to strive for kept me grounded. It reminded me that life had more to offer than just the sadness surrounding me.
She gently brushed my hair away from my face and kissed my cheek. “I heard that Volk is a man of his word. So, don’t worry about me,” she reassured me, her voice quivering with sadness. “And Sofiya,” she continued, her brows furrowing, “Please know that I am sorry. I never wanted any of this to happen. I was in love with Victoria. I loved her with every fiber of my being, and unfortunately, love can drive you to do crazy things. I regret almost every decision I’ve made since I met her. I regret each one of them, except raising you. You were a gift from God.”
