Striving for Greatness: A Vladimir Chigvintsev Story

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Before we knew it we boarded our plane that would be taking us straight to Paris. My family and the others arrived there yesterday and we're already settled in and getting ready for the big competition happening on Sunday. We will arrive late Friday night, Paris time. I took out my phone before we would lose cell service for hours and I called my brother Alek, I needed to hear his voice.

"Vlad, are you on the plane yet?" He asked me.

"Yeah we just boarded, how is everything going? I can't wait to get there."

"Pretty well actually, you know who flew over with us?" He asked and before I could guess he answered, "Val."

My uncle was in Paris, it has been ages since I have seen him and I can't wait to have bonding time with him. It's insane how many loved ones will be there. Both my brothers are in Paris, both my Dads are in Paris, My step mother is in Paris, and all I want is to be there. I wish we had left a day earlier. I am going to be restless this entire plane ride.

Suddenly I heard Artem's voice beaming through the phone.

"Son," he said, "fly safe, call again when you land and Maks and I will be at the airport waiting for you."

"Thanks.. Dad," I said,the word 'dad' just came out and it's stupid to fight it. I don't mind having two dads. Then I added, "I love you."

"I love you too," he said and then I clicked the phone off as fast as I could.

"Maks showing Affection?" Valerie laughed, "It's so rare."

I laughed but then shook my head, "It was Artem."

She stopped laughing and immediately understood. We had a lot of time to talk about life during our plane ride so I told her more stories of my mother and about growing up with Artem and about Maks always being around.

"Has your mother ever been to Paris?" She asked me when we were almost there.

I got a flashback that I hadn't thought about when I was in Paris last year. I thought back to when I was very young and my mom went to Paris with Maks. It was right before we were told she was very sick for the first time. The rest of the flight I couldn't stop thinking about it. Why was my mom in Paris, did she know she was sick and was she here to find a sense of hope. I pulled the photo of Mom, Maks and I out of my bag and just stared at it for a while. Soon after, Valerie shook me and I noticed that everyone was getting off the plane.

We were here.