Anastasia Romanov

CHAPTER VII (HOME)

CHAPTER VII (HOME)

I did not saw Ana after that talk. When I got out from my room that morning, the house was in total silence. But there was food on the table. She probably went out to the market this early to avoid the crowd, I thought.

The rain stopped. I could hear the birds chirping this morning. And the street were crowded with children playing. I could see the palace from here. Since the apartment was located on the top floor of this building, I could clearly see parts of the city. And that included Alexander Palace.

I thought about meeting Dimitri. He had grown so much. He used to have light brown irises. Now they've turned a bit darker. He has grown taller as well, with face and physique that could sway any woman in St.Petersburg. Unconsciously, my hand reached for neck. If Nikolai did not stop Dimitri in time, who knows whether I would be buried in a casket or just be wrapped by a cloth under the earth. If there was one thing that hasn't changed about him at all, it was his anger issues. And apparently, it has become a greater problem now that we've aged.

I decided to visit the palace again. I feel the need to talk to Dimitri. I took my coat hanging from the door and my cap as well. I was already out the door when I remembered the necklace. I really did not want to make a fuss out of it, but it would just feel right if it was with me all the time. So I went back and took the necklace from under my clothes. Carefully locked the door of the apartment and placed the spare key above the door frame, in case Ana wasn't able to bring her key with her.

I walked from the apartment to the palace.

As expected, the streets buzzed with people going out on their daily activities. And I can't help but wonder, what if they were still alive today, we would be happy spending just an ordinary day like this. No fancy dinners, or balloon dresses. No nannies following us everywhere we go. Aleksei can play and spend his afternoon playing sailor. Ah, he would've been older by now, so maybe, instead of playing sailor, he became one. Tatiania, Olga, and Maria would've spend their days doing what they do best. Tatiana would've been in the new government - suppose they gave her any position to fill at all. Olga and Maria, probably might be married by now. Papa and Mama would be happy knowing that their children were living a life of happiness and peace. I smiled on that thought. It would really be nice, going home to them, having dinner, and just spending time altogether.

I stopped walking when I reached the gates of the palace. This was our home. Happy memories of my childhood were spent here. As well as the ones that would continue to haunt me. I probably can never escape from the past. No matter what I do, I'd probably be stuck there forever. Never giving me peace.

"You can move from the past. It just happens that you find it hard to take a step forward, coz you're probably too scared of losing the familiarity of it. Scared of just simply moving forward, because you think that you might abandon them." I turned around finding Dimitri standing behind me. I did not say anything. I was dumbfounded by his presence. I really should stop talking to myself.

Staring at him might just be my new hobby. I just stood there, not even saying anything. Just watching him.

"Stop staring at me as if I will be the one to save you from your misery. I bought some food. Why won't you come inside, so we can talk? Also, stop talking to yourself on the street, people might think that there's something wrong with you." At that, he walked past me and pushed the gates ever so lightly that it did not even made any sound. Hearing the sound of his boots crunch against the leaves in the pavement, I followed suit.

The path that I entered the last time, was the same path that Dimitri led me into. We entered the side entrance of palace, where the ruined kitchen was, and led me up the stairs to the hallway. The hallways were really quiet. Now that I am able to observe the pathways of the hall, I now realized that plants have found their way to the crevices of the floor and vines had crawled up from the floor to ceiling. The paint was also chipped. The windows were smashed and broken.