"Petrichor"

   The black Audi P8 was speeding through the various buildings of the big city. It was the dead of night, but sometimes you could see young people talking and laughing loudly.
   Through the open window, I could feel the cool June night wind playing with my hair. I liked this atmosphere. I turned my gaze to the girl who was driving the car, her red hair in a high ponytail falling over her strong pale shoulders. My closest person.
    - Where are we going? - I asked almost in a whisper, not wanting to interrupt the blissful silence of the night, which was broken only by the car engine.
    The girl smiled, not taking her eyes off the road.
    - To our favorite place, sweetheart.
    My lips stretched into a smile. Our favorite place is the forest, especially after the rain. And today, on our last night together, it had been raining all day.
   Daria sensed my childlike enthusiasm and smiled even more, quickly clicking something on the radio. A few seconds later, the melody of Kalush, Skofka - Homeland (Aspect remix) came on. It was Daria's favorite song.
    My sister and I were very different.
    Daria is twenty-six. She is a brave, courageous, strong girl who is ready to tear anyone apart for her family. Her hobbies are drumming and tattoos. She is a soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. She served at the front for over a year. She loves fast cars and adrenaline. She had many friends, but only let her family close to her heart. She is someone who keeps her word and gets her way.
     I am twenty-two. A fragile, sensitive, shy girl. I never had many friends and spent most of my time reading and studying. I love writing and learning languages.
    But we had something in common: perseverance, dedication and honesty.
    Perseverance in achieving goals.
    Dedication to family and those in our hearts.
    Honesty with yourself and others.
    Daria is like a shield for me - she doesn't let anyone hurt me. Her hugs are strong and warm, and through them she seems to speak: "I'm always here for you, sister. No one can touch you with a finger." And this was her sincere love.
     For my sister, I was the one she could give in to - when she was having a hard time, she would come into the room without knocking and fall into my arms. She cried, sighed, and let her emotions flow. And as much as I could, I helped her with support, advice, and sisterly love. Daria often said: "Melanie, if it weren't for you, I would have given up a long time ago. But I have the sun by my side, which illuminates my soul and gives me warmth every day."
     The car pulled off the highway onto a dirt road. There were only trees everywhere, which greeted us with the rustle of leaves. We drove a little further and my sister stopped the car.
     - It's so beautiful, - Daria said, stretching her whole body.
     - The forest after the rain, - I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, - the place of our childhood and youth.
     My sister stood next to me, hugging my shoulders.
     - It was. It was on this very meadow, many years ago, that my mother told me she was pregnant. I was screaming like crazy, - we both laughed, - because I wanted a brother or sister so badly.
     - Do you remember the first time you brought me here and told me that this place would be ours, and then mom scolded you for going into the forest alone? - I asked.
     - Yeah. I was twelve then, and you were only eight. And how we used to have picnics and tell each other our secrets. Here, I showed you my first tattoo, which my parents didn't know about for a long time; we played, shouted, ran... And the forest seemed to be watching us for years. It has its own atmosphere, a special one.
     - The atmosphere of sisterly love and the story of two lives, - I looked down at the ground, remembering all the moments with a smile.
     - That's right, - Daria kissed my temple, inhaling the lavender scent of my light brown hair. She turned me around and hugged me tightly. - I can't even think that this is our last night together in this forest.
     I took a deep breath, looking into my sister's eyes. Even through the darkness, I could see them sparkling with tenderness for me, filling with tears. The first drop rolled down her freckled cheek. And the second one I wiped off the tender skin of my protector.
     - We will definitely meet, sister. You will come here with Erwin, and then with the kids.
     Daria smiled through her tears as she looked at her right hand with the wedding ring. A month ago, she married Erwin Ireland, a Briton who fought alongside her. He was a volunteer who came from London to defend Ukraine because he had Ukrainian roots - his great-grandmother was born in Kyiv.
     My sister often told me about him because they were always together on missions. In their free time, they talked about various topics. I remember very well Daria's first message about the Briton:
    "We have a new guy here. A Briton from London. He says that his great-grandmother was born in Kyiv and that his family does not forget their roots - they help our people, study the history and culture of Ukraine.
    Anyway, I'm going to practice my English with him. Our lessons until one in the morning will not be in vain, sis :)"
    And a few months later: "I fell in love, can you imagine? Do you know who I fell in love with? With Erwin, bless him! This man pierced my heart shield."
    - I still don't fully realize that I got married, Melanie. I thought it would never happen, - my sister said.
     I smiled as I squeezed her hands.
   - You've been protecting us for a long time, my dear, you're a hero. But now is the time for your happiness, the time to continue building your life. No doubt you will be in touch with the soldiers of your brigade, you will help them together with your husband, but remember how happy they were for you.
    - Yes, of course, we will do our best, - Daria replied almost in a whisper with a smile on her lips and tears in her eyes.
    -  A new stage of life is beginning, my dear. So be happy, and we will meet here at home and in London.
     My sister put her head down on my shoulder as I hugged her. Without realizing it, I started to cry. I cried because I was happy for my sister and sad because I didn't want to let her go.
  - Thank you for everything, my sunshine. Take care of yourself and be happy. We will see each other for sure, - Daria smiled and put her hand on my heart, - I am always there, in your heart.
    - And I'm always here for you, sis, - I smiled, putting my hand on the heart of my defender.
     I looked with tenderness and boundless love into my sister's green eyes, so deep and beautiful. They reminded me of petrichor*, trips at two in the morning, and long hugs...

*Petrichor is the smell of the forest after rain.