Possessed hearts - стр. 20

To summarise: the holiday was a success.

But soon, thankfully, it was time to part. When saying goodbye, I gave my sweet Misha a beautiful expensive dress, which I ordered in the best atelier in Toronto, according to my sketch. Misha was ecstatic, rushed to hug me and reminded me once again of my promise to come to every one of her birthdays.

"Oh, Misha, you're just taking advantage of my love!" – went through my head. But her happy eyes immediately killed any hope of excuses in me.

– And remember that you can always come to us, at any time of the year and day! – Misha chirped, not letting me out of her arms. – You're always welcome!

I suppressed a laugh. Oh, yes, Fredrik, indeed. Naive little sister.

– Maybe we'll fly to Toronto to see you! – Misha suddenly exclaimed.

I pulled away and smiled impotently: no, that's all I needed!

– I don't think it's a good idea… I won't have free time to entertain you, you know? I work twenty-four hours a day…" I whispered, not knowing how to lie more convincingly.

At the thought that Misha would inadvertently encounter one of my mortal "suitors" waiting for me at home and at work, I was horrified. Misha can't know. It would be… The end. The end of me. The end of her love for me. The end of me. No.

– It's no big deal! Even a couple of hours a day will be enough for me! After all, Fredrik will fly with me!

Fredrik covered a mocking smile with his palm.

– Misha… – I grabbed her palms and looked into her eyes. – You don't have to fly to me. I'll fly to you myself. Honestly. For a week. Just you and me. Deal?

– That's a great idea, Maria. If you came in December, when I was away visiting my parents, that would be the perfect visit," Fredrik said. There was irony in his voice, but Misha didn't seem to notice it, because she immediately agreed with him.

I don't know why, but my little sister didn't want to notice that her husband and I preferred not to see each other. That's a good damn thing, because if we make her choose the company of only one of us, she'll choose Fredrik. She loves him. I can't lose her. Luckily Fredrik knew that, knew how much I loved Misha. And he tolerated it, gallantly agreeing to leave his wife for a whole week, because I knew perfectly well that the visit to my parents was a lie.

So I left Prague, bound by promises and a wonderful sense of freedom.

The day had exhausted me. So many emotions. Too much for one day.

After arriving in Toronto and throwing my suitcase into my flat, I hurried to the nearest nightclub. In the morning, I threw another mortal heart out the door.

Midnight.

The big yellow moon shines its light on an awake Toronto. The moon shines so brightly on this night that the streetlamps only gleam uselessly with their electric dead light. There is only this endless deep black sky and this moon.

I savour the solitude and this picturesque scene. My wide long balcony has fortunately become a great place for night contemplation. I am lying on a narrow sofa. My bare feet rest on a large firm velvet cushion. Comfort. Solitude. A bottle of fresh blood. A crystal wine glass. The idyll. I cut myself off from all sound. Not the voices of the neighbours, not the couple in the next house watching a horror film, not the noise of cars. Nothing. Silence.