Miracles | 𝔐𝔞𝔤𝔫𝔦𝔣𝔦𝔠𝔢𝔫𝔱 ℭ𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔲𝔯𝔶

part two

Mila sat on the floor of her small room, her fingers tracing the edges of a wooden easel. It was worn, the wood smoothed by years of use, but it was one of her most precious possessions. She couldn't imagine leaving without it. Her sketchbook, her easel, her paints, and the blank canvases she had lovingly carried around for as long as she could remember were her lifeline to a world she couldn't yet touch.

She gathered her belongings methodically, each item telling a part of her story. A few pieces of clothing, shoes, and a modest leather bag. Inside, tucked away with care, was a small pouch of gold coins her parents had given her. It wasn't much, but it was enough to start her journey. It would have to be.

As she placed her easel next to the bag, her heart tightened with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Leo had his own ambitions as a painter, and she couldn't help but wonder if the world outside their village would allow her the same freedom. Here, in Rohatyn, she was invisible. A woman, and an artist—two things that didn't go hand in hand. She needed to go where her skills would be seen and appreciated, where her work could mean something.

The first leg of their journey would take them to Kiev, a familiar enough city but one that would be the beginning of a much larger adventure. From there, they would head toward Poland, stepping deeper into the unknown.

Her thoughts drifted to Leo as she packed. He was just as restless as she was, his heart divided between the search for his beloved Alexandra and his desire to make something of himself. They had grown up together, their bond forged through shared moments of quiet, painting in the fields or beneath the shelter of a tree. But now, the stakes were higher. This journey was more than just about finding Alexandra—it was about finding themselves.

Mila stood up, running her fingers over the edges of the canvas she was taking with her. It was blank for now, but she imagined the colors and shapes that would fill it one day. Her future, much like the canvas, was wide open.

Outside her window, the streets of Rohatyn were quiet. Familiar. But there was nothing left for her here. As much as she loved her home, she knew this was a place that would stifle her dreams. With a deep breath, she turned away from the village she had always known and focused on the journey ahead.

Kiev was waiting. Poland was waiting. The whole world was waiting.

And for the first time in a long while, Mila felt ready to meet it.