We 7 Forever

Chapter 61: Maria

Above: Maria, Alexei And Anastasia 1915

I sit inside the room with Sasha and let out a sigh. Finally I'm safe with papa and we can go to England or Denmark and live the rest of our lives. My heart saddens as I think of mama and everyone else, finally I feel as though I can finally start the grieving process and to heal, we will be safe soon. I let my salty tears start to flow down my cheeks before I break into full blown sobs. I won't cry in front of papa, he has enough on his plate I swear to myself. I put my head into my hands and I feel Sasha put his arm around my shoulders so I can lean into him. I sit with mama on the banks of  the Dnieper as I watch Alexei and Nastya splash each other in the shallows and Tatiana walks a ways away with Dmitri. "Mama, Do you think that we'll be able to go back to the Crimea soon?" I ask softly and she looks at me, the yellow parasol shading her face, She opens her mouth to say something but Olga cuts her off. "If  we survive this war." She says dryly and I look at her sadly, she's always so melancholy these days. "Enough Olga." Mama says and Olga gets up and walks down the banks away from us. I come out of my memory with Sasha drying the tears on my face gently. "Are you alright now Kiska?" he asks gently and I look down realizing he's holding my hands, I pull them away gently and wipe my sweating palms on my skirt. "I'm alright, let's go find papa." I whisper and walk out of the room, why was he looking at me like that? He is my friend and my protector along with papa now my family is dead, it's not time for flirtations and puppy loves like with the sailors on the standart. I walk down the halls of the ship looking down at my feet before I walk into a man. "Excuse me." I keep my head down neither Sasha or Papa is here to help me if this man was trouble. He says nothing and keeps his dark head down also while walking away from me. I turn around and see a small badge dangling from his top. I gasp, He's from the Russian army, our army, not the reds. "Wait!" I cry out as he turns a corner and I follow him hurriedly maybe he needs help, he seems to walk with a slight limp. He looks back at me and for a slight moment I feel like I recognize him before he breaks out into a sprint. "Wait please let me help!" I shout and run after him I see a little dribble of blood on the floor and know he's in trouble. I run after him all through the halls of the ship and up onto the deck until I get to the stern. "No where did he go?" I mutter under my breath before I feel a pair of arms pull me back.