Nikolay

It had long since darkened outside, and only the warm light from the kitchen cut a cozy rectangle in the evening twilight. Onions sizzled in the pan, and I, stirring dinner, absentmindedly gazed at the familiar windowsill. The silence in the house was always special when Kolka disappeared into the hangar. I knew that right there, to the thunder of guitar riffs, he was conjuring up his helicopter, and I wouldn't expect him back until midnight.

Suddenly, the familiar rhythm of the evening was shattered by a sound. Not a melody, not the hum of a motor, but the scraping of a key in the front door lock. Too soon. My heart skipped a beat, and a second later I was flying into the hallway, wiping my hands on my apron.

"Kolya?!" my voice broke into a joyful half-scream.

He stood in the doorway, so familiar, in his signature leather jacket, reeking of oil and gasoline. I crashed into him, wrapping my arms around his neck, burying my face in his chest. The sharp, familiar scent of the hangar felt like the best cologne in the world.

"Kolka, what's wrong?" I babbled, unable to contain my smile. "What happened? You're always up until midnight... And I'm just finishing dinner..."

He hugged me back, tightly, as always, and I felt all my daytime fatigue disappear somewhere.

"I missed you," he said hoarsely, pulling away slightly and looking into her eyes. Warm sparks danced in them. "I'm tired of all this metal. I want to be with you. All together."

I froze, not believing my ears.

"Let's go somewhere?" he breathed, and his voice held that boyish determination that still made my knees buckle. "Away from the missions, away from this hangar... Just you and me."