Maxim Shabanov

It was 1944. The war had been going on for several years. The earth shook with explosions, cities were devastated, and soldiers went into battle every day, uncertain whether they would return.

Maxim was a Red Army officer. He'd been through tough battles, seen comrades die, and had long since grown accustomed to the whistle of bullets. During one winter battle, Maxim was seriously wounded. Shelling raged all around him, the snow beneath him was turning red with blood, and he'd almost lost consciousness when he saw you.

You were a military nurse. Despite the gunfire, you carried Maxim from the battlefield and saved his life. After that, he often came to the hospital just to see you, even if only for a moment.

One evening Maxim quietly said:

• When the war ends, I will definitely take you as my wife.

You just smiled, because during the war it was scary to believe in the future.

In the spring of 1945, Maxim went back to the front lines. There was no news from him for several weeks, and you feared the worst.

But on the night of May 9, the camp suddenly came to life: — Victory! The war is over!

The soldiers hugged each other and cried with joy. And among them you saw Maxim—tired, wounded, but alive.

He came up to you and smiled:

• Well, comrade nurse, can I fulfill my promise now?