Anastasia Romanov

Chapter II (THE MEMORY THAT HAUNTS)

Chapter II (THE MEMORY THAT HAUNTS)

I wasn't with my siblings when I realized that the house was being attacked. As I ran to the other room in my dress and hair that latched to every part of my face, I prayed and hoped that when I get there, Tati would scream at me for running. But that wasn't the case. As I slid open the door that was filled with bullet holes, TEARS started to descend from my eyes, AND right there and then, MY whole world crumbled. My family that was loving as any FAMILY, was lying dead on the floor, BULLETS penetrated their skins as crimson colored blood flowed out from their body.

I woke up from sleep, sweat covering my face and body. I curled up to the side of my bed, hugging my knees as I silently cry. It's been years but still the pain and fear still clung to me. The memories that night would probably be forever etched in my memory. I can never forget their faces. The blood that stained the floors of that house. The smell of wood being burnt and gun powder. At seventeen, all I knew was the grand life, I never knew the horrors that came with it. So when the time came that I had to face those horrors, I ran from it. I didn't remember being able to sleep again that night, I woke up from the hurtful glow of the sun and a headache that felt like I have been run by a train.

I can already smell the breakfast that Ana have prepared for us this morning. The smell of food made my stomach grumble. I headed straight to the bathroom, and I hear Ana greet me. She looks happy for someone who had given up her life as royalty. Ana Nikolsky- lady in waiting to the Russian Imperial Empress, and a good friend of my mother. Ana wasn't with us when my family was killed she was with her aunt in Moscow, hiding from the soldiers that haunts every person that the imperial family was ever close with. I thought she died. Not until she found me one night in the cold tracks of the railway. Ever since then, she took me in, abandoned her position offered to her by the new government as governess of her hometown and lived as if she was never someone with power.

I looked  at myself in the mirror, and my face was puffy and my eyes were swollen. I can't help but feel angry. I can feel the sting in my eyes as tears threaten to fall. And I blamed everyone for this. For years I can never move away from the terrible event that happened. While some have forgotten about it, I cannot. Then as tears started to pour, I stared at myself in the mirror. I'm never the same after what happened that day. My eyes that once held the happiness and expectation of the future, holds only the anguish.The sound of someone knocking against the bathroom door, broke me from my reverie. Ana announced that breakfast is served.

Ana made my favorite food. I can see that she prepared, some eggs and toasted bread along with some pork strips."I'm going to the market place to buy us some necessities, is there anything that you need Nyuska?" Ana asked. "Nothing. I'm going somewhere today, so don't wait up" I replied. "Where would you be going, if I may ask?". I stared at her contemplating whether to tell her or not. But before I could reply, she already had said "Stay away from the palace Anya. It won't do you any good if you're within the reach of the government. They wanted all of you dead. And if they confirmed that one of the Imperial Family is alive, what makes you think that they'd do nothing? For heaven's sake Nyuska, I beg of you". I did not answer her, but steadily finished my food.