one word answers or did not replied; however, his sister did not pay attention to that. She brought some water and kept her hands on the brother’s head for a long time, as if checking temperature. Nothing seemed suspicious to her and she kept on exploring the gypsum.
– How are you doing Irina? – asked Max and looked at her, opening eyes with a huge effort. He loved his sister dearly and always helped her with everything: gave advice, helped with homework and took her places. She addressed him with various questions on the regular bases, questions she could not even address to the mother, so personal they were. Her blond, almost white hair was turning darker with years; they used to be curly but now straightened, and only unruly locks at the roots reminded of the curls. Blue eyes were getting more bright and intensive and when she was worried. She tried to hide her worries but Maxim could always tell it by her eyes if his sister needed help and asked about the problem. There was not a single situation when he was not there for her. Even when he had no time or the problem was manageable for the little girl, he still was leaving everything behind and gave her a hand. So now, feeling his sister worried, Max realized that his broken bone gave her more reasons to worry.
– The teacher was taken away today by the ambulance!
Tear ran from her eye and slowly rolled down the cheek.
– Please understand that we all shall die at one day. There is no reason for tears, we need to live further, help each other, no matter how hard it is. – Maxim had to close eyes again – weakness overwhelmed him.
– Can she die? She is so young!
– Unfortunately there is a possibility but you need to take it easy, understand??
– I shall try, but it is hard.
After some time, she calmed down.
– Everything in life is difficult. When you do something you say that it was very easy and wonder why you did not do it before. Am I right?
The door bell rang and she rushed to open the door for the father.
– Where is mom? – He was surprised.
– At the neighbor’s place. They made arrangements last night.
– So she hasn’t seen Maxim yet?
– Not yet. She will be here soon it is ten pm now.
They were sitting on the couch in the living room near Maxim and talked lively, waiting for mom to get home. Father even managed to make sister laugh and lift her spirits. Occupied by conversation, they did not notice how mother came in. She froze and silently looked at the lying son. Maxim felt her stare and realized that it was her. Father and sister ceased talking and waited for the reaction.
– Hmmm seems like we will have unusual New Year celebration! Great! Dear, tell me how did that happened?!
Maxim understood that mom was in a good mood and did not know what to say.
– Fell down the stair steps, – it was everything he could say.
– Does your head hurt?
– No!
– No problem then! – She replied and left to the kitchen:
– Let’s have some tea. I brought a cake.
– I shall pass, – Max said and returned to rest. After some time, he heard jingling of the tea pot, clinks of tea cups and happy voices of the relatives. Not having time to think of anything, Max fell asleep immediately.
V
Leaving the canteen, Sveta saw her husband who was pale and lost a lot of weight. He was dressed like her in all white and had a facial expression of the person who lost something in life. Hugging him, she thought: «I probably look like he does; I have not seen myself in the mirror for a week».
– Darling! How are you feeling?
Not giving her a time to answer, Vadim asked another question:
– Do you blame me for what happened?
– No, don’t think so! How can it be your fault? That all happened because of me: I could not start a conversation with you for so long and finally chose a wrong moment… Forgive me love! I really did not meant for it to be like that…
– I know, there is no need to apologize. Don’t worry about Nikita, I called him up and told to close the apartment and move to grandmother. He should stay there for another week and he likes it there.
– Vadim, how is your health?
– I am okay, I got away with a couple of bruisers and concussion. And you?
– My spleen was ruptured and also some bruisers and contusions.
– So we are doing very well, it could be a lot worse.
– No, we are not doing well at all!
– What do you mean by that?
Vadim realized that his wife has been hiding something.
– I went through examination and I was told that weather I would be able to get pregnant or not depends only on me. From the physiological point of view, I am healthy, from psychological one – I am not.
Sveta started to cry. Vadim gave her a hug:
– How can that be?
– When the car accident took place I was on the top of emotional distress about getting pregnant; and the car crash caused the tension to grow. To become pregnant now I need to go through the situation that would have the same psychological effect, may be even a stronger one, for the mental trauma to lessen…
Svetlana burst into tears.
– Calm down, everything will be fine, please don’t worry!
– How things can become fine? Vadim! All that has been lasting for ten years! Do you realize that? Ten years!! It is not one day, not one month, but a huge amount of time! You understand that totally.
Sveta watched her husband’s face turning into the stone and her body start shaking. With her arms shaking she lighten up the cigarette and after exhaling smoke, continued:
– There is no need to calm me down, we need to come up to the plan!
– Sveta, I am very sorry, but how do you imagine all that? You know very well that the situation was very extreme. We are very lucky to survive and you want to create a similar situation! What are you thinking about? I don’t think we should risk our lives. For what, Sveta! As a plan we can adopt a child. I don’t want to loose you. You have no idea how much I blame myself for this accident!
She smoked silently. Yes, Vadim said all the right things but she told herself not to loose hope. It is definitely necessary to try the only question is how to do it. So far she saw one way out: overlook her life values and change for better. May be this strategy will help and the problem will solve by itself. Svetlana realized that it is not very realistic, but firmly decided to start a new life.
– Sveta, please says something.
– I’ll be trying, – said Svetlana. After thinking for some time, she continued:
– By all means necessary. Will you help me dear?
– You know, there could be only one answer to that question – yes.
After that, he kissed her for the first time during this week and started to cry again.
– Ok, don’t cry! Let’s go to our wards! The sleeping hour is until five.
– I’ll see you in the evening dear; – Svetlana kissed her husband and went to get sleep.
Tears kept crying from her beautiful eyes and head started to ache. Nurse was waiting for her in the ward with the syringe. Svetlana didn’t wait for the shot and not noticing anything around; she understood that she was falling asleep…
In the dream everything was twinkling in front of her eyes, as if the book was skimmed. Suddenly, she saw herself at the class. She stood up from her chair