Between Shades Of Gray - Fanfiction

Between Shades of Gray Fanfiction - Welcoming

Welcome to the average day in my life.

I wake up, haul bags of grain, get bread rations, take care of my brother and friends, and go to sleep. I've been doing this since 1941, and now, it is 1944. I've been doing this for 3 years straight, being treated like a criminal, but I've done nothing wrong. I used to be sick of it all, but now, I've gotten used to this, as I have to. I have to do this for another 10 years. 

I remember being 15 years old when this all happened. Now, I am 18 years old, getting prepared for the next winter in Siberia. I miss Lithuania, I miss my Papa and Mother, and I miss my old life. I also miss Andrius. I wonder if he still remembers who I am.

And here I am, lying in bed in my nightgown, waiting for this to all be over, so I can head back to Kaunas. My brother is sound asleep in his bed, and I can't go to sleep. I often get nightmares from this entire experience. I fear going to bed each night. I suddenly hear murmurs a couple doors down. Jonas wakes up.

"Do you hear that?" He asks. "Yes, Jonas, I do. Go to sleep." He follows my instructions, but I don't. I try to hear the conversation.

"Do you know where Lina Vilkas is? Lina?" I hear someone say. Crap. If it's the NKVD, I'm toast. I see my brother already falling asleep, so I get up and get closer to the door. 

"She's probably asleep." I hear someone else say. "I know, it's late, but do you know which jurta she's in? I need to know." 

"I'm not sure. Lina's probably a couple doors down." The other replied. "Why do you need her?" 

"Because," The man continued, "I haven't seen her in two years. We were at a camp together, before she got deported here. I need to know, now. She's in this village, right?"

I couldn't see him, but he got closer to my jurta. I could hear him. I could hear that voice. I recognized it immediately. The night had finally came, where I would finally see him again. Andrius Arvydas. 

I throw on my coat, and step out of the opening. I don't see him at first. I see nothing but a few quiet jurtas. I'm still in my nightgown, and I am freezing.

"Lina!" I hear someone yell, far away. I turn around. Now, I don't have to just hear Andrius. I get to see him. 

I run towards him with all of my strength, and hug him in his arms. I saw his wavy hair droop below my face. I looked into his blue eyes, more blue then ever. I couldn't believe it.

"You...you found me." I breathe. "How did you get here?" I say, looking at him. 

"They figured that we probably deserve to come to Siberia as well. The NKVD got tired with my mother, so they dumped her. She's not in prostitution anymore, which is great, but now we are here." He whispered. "Unfortunately, I'm on the other side of here, but I still might get to see you every so often." 

"I don't care. I just care that you're here." I smiled.

"Where's Jonas? I've been worried sick." He steps away.

"He's sleeping. He's been getting more sleep these days. He's 13 now, so he's been going through a lot of physical changes, and is the biggest fan of sleep." 

"I could imagine." He chuckled. "How's your mom doing?" 

I stop, looking at the ground. "She...she died 2 years ago. My father also died. So, it's just us." 

"What?" He sighed, holding my hands.

"It was hard on her. My father ended up in a prisoner camp, and was shot in the head. After that, my mom gave up on everything, from bread rations to hope. And, there she went. She was gone." I felt tears roll down my face. I couldn't control it anymore. 

"I'm so, so sorry." He said, sitting on a log. He motioned me to join him, and I did.

"It was hard on me as well. Both of my parents were gone. You were gone. I missed you more than anything, praying every night that you were still alive. I'm just glad that I still have you. And I'm glad you knew my parents, although you met my dad in a split second." I smiled, thinking about that June morning in 1941, where he fed ham to him.

We sat in silence, before I remembered something. "Oh!" I yelp, before reaching in my pocket for the stone. "I still have this." I showed him the stone.

"You do?" His eyes sparkled. "And, Krasivaya. I learned the word. Beautiful." I said.

"Just like you." He grinned, before he kissed me. And the fireworks exploded. I felt love again. I had been waiting for years. And I found it, with him.

"I need to get back. I need sleep. I'll try to find you tomorrow, no guarantee." He petted my hair.

"So do I. Goodbye, Andrius." I kiss him one last time, before walking back to my jurta. Right before I walk in, I can see Andrius in the distance, staring at me. I can see the tears in his eyes. I wave, before crawling back inside. 

"Do I love him?" I ask, before hopping into bed again. There was no way I was going to sleep, ever.