Inventing Wonders

Chapter 9: I Dreamed of You That Night

She walked down a long corridor in a white dress. The fact that the dress was white seemed so important that forgetting to mention this color would be a grave mistake. Lara examined the corridor walls — a row of doors. But she couldn't decide which room to enter. The decision felt crucial, as if someone's life depended on it, even though nothing indicated that. She stopped at one of the doors and placed her hand on the gilded handle. The simple movement felt torturous; she didn't want to enter, but continuing down the hallway wasn't an option either. Finally, Lara managed to push herself. She barely nudged the door open and found herself in a bright room.

The girl walked through the entire room. There was nothing around. The whiteness was unsettling. Lara looked out the window: cherry trees were blooming in the garden, and a dim sun was shining. She made another effort: she sat on the windowsill, gathered up her dress, swung her legs over, and found herself in the open air. It seemed to her that she had gained freedom. Perhaps this was the feeling Kondrasha always talked about.

"It's wonderful," she whispered, and, turning her head, was astonished: "And you're here?"

"How could I not be here if all this is my dream?" Nikolai Pavlovich was just as surprised.

"No way, if it's a dream, it's mine, not yours, and if it's my dream, then you certainly don't belong here!" Lara protested and turned away, but the engineer immediately approached her.

"You didn't run away from St. Petersburg because of me, did you?" he suddenly asked.

Lara looked up at him. In the loose shirt, he seemed much more open than in the armor of his uniform. If she kept looking into his eyes, she was sure to do something foolish.

"You are absolutely right!" she lied. "As always!"

"Lara, just answer one question: what exactly causes these emotions in you?" Under the cherry tree sat psychologist Lolita.

A gentle woman with short gray hair and accepting features. For some reason, Lara wasn't surprised by her appearance and immediately replied:

"It's obvious! He makes me angry! What does he want from me?!"

"Excuse me," Nikolai Pavlovich coldly replied, "I don't particularly need anything from you. You're the one always shouting and running away from me, Larisa Konstantinovna," he shook his head. "I should be the one complaining, dear Lolita. Maybe you can tell me why I'm so concerned about the countess?"

"You're concerned about me?! You might as well say you're interested in me!" the girl interrupted, saying exactly what she wanted to hear from him.

"Lara, this is a group session, let Nikolai speak," interrupted the outburst of anger Lolita, who never interrupted anyone.

Lara suddenly realized she was no longer standing but sitting in a chair, and behind her was not a window but that same familiar office on the Fontanka. Only the front wall was missing; it was like she was in a dollhouse.

"Exactly!" Nikolai Pavlovich unexpectedly confirmed emotionally. "I'm trying to be lenient with you, and you behave disgracefully."

"I behave disgracefully?!" Lara gasped. "We barely know each other, and you've already intruded into my dream and turned my psychologist against me!"

"Larisa Konstantinovna, please stop shouting. I don't understand half of what you're saying, what you're accusing me of, or where we are," the engineer restrained her. "Don't you think your manners leave much to be desired? And, anyway, why do you think this is your dream?"

"It's my psychologist, so it's my dream!" Lara stomped her foot when words ran out.

"I don't even know what a psychologist is or what this woman is doing here," he waved towards Lolita, who was diligently taking notes, "but I'm the one who's sleeping right now. So, I have to ask you to show some respect and let me rest."