Page 83 of Eternal

AZRA

“Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane

Past

R unning here feels good.

I love the complex, it’s filled with space and gardens and it’s also really clean.

I don’t know why, Alexei always said I have to be careful but no one would hurt me because I’m his baby.

The complex… It feels better than home these days, it’s safe.

Viktor is always behind me, like he’s making sure I don’t fall. Kat is still talking to her dad, but she doesn’t look happy, even though she keeps smiling anyway.

Kat is so pretty, but I prefer how kind she is to me. I think every boy would fall in love with her.

I wonder if a boy will ever fall in love with me, but my eyes are strange, and my hair is always messy. I hate brushing it, it hurts too much.

I keep running, laughing, chasing the dogs, they’re so cute. The family says they’re dangerous, but they’re just misunderstood. Mama always told me people are scared of things they don’t understand, if something looks different or mean, they think it is.

Maybe that’s why I love the doggies so much, they don’t get scared of me, they don’t think my eyes are strange, they never hurt me, they always play with me.

Viktor calls my name, telling me not to run too far, but I only laugh and go faster. The grass is wet and squishy under my feet, my shoes are getting muddy, but I don’t care. The wind feels nice in my hair and the sky looks so big here, it feels safe.

I wish I could stay here forever.

Viktor is behind me, yelling, “ Kroshka , come back!”

But I keep running, laughing. The sun is almost gone, turning the sky all orange and pink. It's warm, but the wind feels nice and cool.

I think I’m happy right now.

Then… My foot hit a rock, I fell hard, and my knee stings really bad. I look down and see blood and I start laughing, even when my eyes get all watery.

“ Kroshka !!!” Vik is right there now, looking all panicked. “Are you okay?”

I giggle, sniffling. “Look! My knee is all red now.”

He frowns but still smiles a little. “You’re really stupid. You could’ve hit your head, Azra.” He checks my knee, his face all serious and I grin even more, then he stands up and taps my forehead. “Come on, Kroshka . Get on my back, I’ll take you home.”

I climb onto his back super fast before he changes his mind, wrapping my arms around his neck, I start singing one of Mama’s favorite songs.

Vik groans. “You hurt yourself and now you’re singing like nothing happened?”

“Yep.” I squeeze him tighter. “And you’re carrying me home, so I won.”

He huffs. “You’re acting like a spoiled princess.”

I press my forehead to his cheek, grinning. “I’m not a princess! I’m a flower. I’m an iris! Or a butterfly! The prettiest one.”

He laughs. “Oh, you’re a flower now? Then why is this flower so heavy?”

“You’re meaaaaaan!”

Suddenly, he starts running and I squeal, laughing so hard my belly hurts. “I’m not mean, I’m your big brother, Kroshka .”

When we get home, he puts me on a chair and starts fixing my knee, his face is all serious again, I don’t want him to be worried. “I’m… I’m sorry, Vik. I didn’t want to fall.”

He looks up and smiles. “That’s okay. I picked you up, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, but now you’re tired.”

He rolls his eyes and plays with my hair. “Hey, it’s okay if you fall. I’ll always pick you up, idiot.”

I blink at him, and my chest feels all warm and fuzzy. “Really? You’ll always pick me up?”

He sits in front of me and pinches my cheek. “Yeah. Always. Who else if not me?”

I smile. “Who else if not you?”

I really like Vik, he’s my best friend, I wish Kat could play with us more…

A few seconds later she walks in, holding a plate of cookies. She looks kinda sad, I think her father was mean to her again.

“Hi. I have cookies.”

She sits next to Vik, handing me one before shoving one in her mouth. “Why is Visha hurt?”

Vik puts an arm around her and takes a cookie too. “Because flowers can’t run.”

I giggle and Kat just shakes her head.

Flowers don’t cry and they can’t run.