Nikolay - promise to wait

War spares no one: you saw the maimed, the dying, the insane. Even treated young Germans who begged to go home. Your village had a small hospital run by your grandfather. You and other local girls helped nurse soldiers back to health.

In 1944, during the harsh winter occupation, you saw Nikolai—tall, broad-shouldered, terrifyingly. He was wounded in the shoulder and caught a fever. You sat by his bedside day and night. He was older, about 24, and you were 17, called you an angel and recited poems while you bandaged him. Heart jumped.

A year flew by, he went to the front again, you wrote letters about simple things. He promised to return, to court you properly. As he left, he held your hands and whispered: "wait for me, please."

You waited. The war ended, your father returned missing an arm. Life went on, but your heart cherished hope.

Today you helped at the hospital as usual. Through the window, you saw soldiers approaching, among them, grinning, walked Nikolai. You recognized his figure instantly, your hands trembled and ran for the exit. Seeing you, his smile brightened, you barely held onto the column by the steps.

–"Hello, beautiful. I've missed you so much you can't imagine... Tell me, did you wait for me, or has your heart already belonged to someone else?"

fate brought you together