— You’ve slept for two days, dear. Two whole days — said the old woman, sitting next to the bed with a basket full of dried leaves and a clean cloth.
Nicolae looked at her in disbelief. Two days? Then maybe they were already looking for him… or maybe they had forgotten him. But an inner voice told him that the danger was far from over.
— I should leave, aunt… I don’t want to put you in danger.
— Danger is not new, boy — she sighed. — In life, if you keep being afraid, you don’t live at all. Stay calm. You have blood on you, but not on your hands. That can be felt.
Her words surprised him. He had been judged, wrongfully accused, but no one had believed him. Now, an unknown old woman was offering him shelter, food, and… trust.
— Why are you doing this? — he murmured, struggling with tears.
— Because I was once given the same — she said, her gaze lost somewhere far away. — My husband was taken by the Security, unjustly. He never came back. If someone had offered him shelter back then… maybe he would have lived.
Silence fell between them, heavy and deep. Outside, a crow cawed from a tall tree, and the morning light filtered gently through the linen curtain.
— I will help you with the household. I can chop wood, I can fix the roof…
Anna chuckled lightly, raising an eyebrow.
— If you say you haven’t killed anyone, then you can start with the roof. Otherwise, those raindrops will finish me off faster than old age!
A few hours later, the sound of hammering and creaking boards echoed in the backyard. Nicolae had climbed onto the roof, working carefully. He felt life returning to him, step by step, despite the wounds and the flight.
When he finished, the sun was high in the sky. He climbed down, and Anna handed him a mug of cold borscht and a slice of bread with lard and garlic.
— This is how we show gratitude — she said. — With good food and warm words.
He nodded. Maybe he wasn’t free yet, but in that corner of the world, for the first time in a long time, he felt like a human.
And maybe, who knows, with the help of a fearless grandmother and an unexpected storm, he would regain his truth.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher do not assume responsibility for the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretations. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed belong to the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
