Chapter 35 - All of you. All of me.

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He didn't say anything on the way back. I let him have his peace. When we pulled up outside our houses he stayed sat still for a few long moments.

"I know you want answers, Zoya... but I can't. Not right now."

That was pretty much all the answer I needed. I felt tears come to my eyes, but I didn't let them fall. He didn't need to see me upset. "I know."

He got out of the car so I did too. As soon as he turned to his house his eyes fixed upon something that was taped to his door. I noticed that there was something taped to mine too. It was an envelope that was flapping about in the wind. I hurried to the door before it could fly away. There was only one word on the envelope written in a feminine hand.

Zoie 

Even though my name was spelt wrong I knew it was from Katya. And that meant... that meant Grigory's was from her too. I looked over to him eyes wide. He'd already opened the envelope and had read it. He was just staring at it now. He wasn't even breathing.

"Grigory?"

Nothing. Not even an eye blink.

"Koresh?" I knew it was cruel. I knew now was not the time to remind him of the nickname I'd given him and the kiss. It made him flinch and I hate that I'd made him do so, but it worked.

He spoke softly in Russian. A whole letter's worth of words I didn't understand, but it was obvious what he was reading the letter out to me. Tears fell from his eyes and his hand began to shake. It was a goodbye letter.

He carefully folded it up and put it back in the envelope and then he turned to me speaking in Russian. I still had no idea what he was saying, but I nodded anyway. I watched him go into his house and shut the door.

I sank down on the step and leaned against the door. I sent a silent prayer up to whoever might be listening and asked them only to make sure that Grigory was alright and would one day be ok. Then I wiped the tears that had at some point fallen from my eyes and with a shaking hand opened my letter. It was on plain paper and was only two short sentences long, but it was all in Russian which was no bloody use at all since I hadn't learned the words that were written down.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and switched it on. I took a photo of the letter and sent it to Lexie with the caption "translate ASAP". As soon as the message sent my phone was hit with a barrage of texts, all from Lexie.

Kayta is at Sergey's
crying her eyes out and
won't say what's wrong.
text me as soon as exam
is over!


OMG! She and Grigory
split up! She won't say
anything else. Do you
know what happened?


Ok. Got full story now.
Call me if you don't
know it.


I was about to call her when I got another text from her.

You have his heart.
Please don't break it.


I smiled even though I began to cry. Maybe Katya wasn't a complete bitch after all. I let a few more tears fall and then went inside, teeth chattering and nose running. Dad pounced on me as soon as I got in.

"Did Grigory tell you what the argument was about?" he asked.

"Me."

"You?"

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