Oksana had never thought much about the past year when she planned to visit her grandmother, Varvara Alekseevna, for the summer. She loved her grandmother dearly, but what awaited her in the village would change everything.
The sun was shining brightly when Oksana arrived, shedding her sandals and eager to see her grandmother. But her joy quickly turned to shock when she saw a familiar figure on the road: Natasha, or Tutsi as they used to call her. It had been more than a year since Natasha disappeared without a trace. Oksana froze, stunned. Was it really her?
“Natasha! Natasha, where have you been?” Oksana called out, but the girl disappeared before she could get closer. There was no mistaking it—the same long, ashy hair and piercing on her lip. But Natasha had vanished from their camp the previous summer, and now she was standing on the road in front of her.
Oksana tried to push it out of her mind as she continued to her grandmother’s cottage, but things only grew more confusing when she overheard her grandmother on the phone, talking about Natasha and a wedding gift. To Oksana’s dismay, she learned that Lyosha, the boy she secretly loved, was getting married to Natasha.
Distraught, Oksana retreated inside. She had always dreamed of telling her grandmother about her feelings for Lyosha, but now it seemed pointless. He was marrying Natasha.
Later, her grandmother sent her to the neighbor, Afanasyevna, who had a special gift for her. While there, Oksana heard voices through the window: Lyosha and Natasha. Oksana couldn’t help but feel like an outsider in the village where she once felt so comfortable.
That night, Oksana had a strange dream of Lyosha and Natasha. The next day, Lyosha confirmed her worst fears: he was in love with Natasha and was marrying her.
Oksana wandered the village in a daze and met an older woman who suggested she visit Valentina, the local witch, for help. Skeptical, Oksana decided to go, not for magic, but for advice.
When Oksana arrived at Valentina’s house, she overheard a conversation between Lyosha and Natasha. Lyosha begged Natasha to marry him, but Natasha rejected him, explaining that she didn’t love him. Valentina, the witch, told him to return to Oksana, who still loved him.
Oksana was stunned by the revelation and the mysterious connection between Natasha and Valentina. Natasha, it seemed, wasn’t just a strange classmate. She was part of a much deeper story involving Valentina’s lost daughter, whom she had abandoned years ago.
When Oksana confronted Natasha, she learned the truth. Natasha was Valentina’s daughter, who had been lost and then found through the witch’s abilities. Valentina performed a DNA test, confirming the bond. Natasha, it seemed, wasn’t just running away from her family—she had been searching for her true mother.
As Oksana processed the strange events, there was a knock at the door. It was Lyosha, who had returned to apologize. He confessed that he had been confused and had realized his true feelings for Oksana. He begged for forgiveness.
Oksana was torn. She wanted to forgive him, but she couldn’t forget the pain he caused. After a moment of silence, she said, “I forgive you, but don’t hurt me again.”
And in that moment, as the evening sky darkened, Oksana and Lyosha embraced, ready to start anew.
Leave a Reply