The sun rose over Svetlana as if it had come to erase the sadness and cold the night rain had left behind.
The morning was bright and beautiful.
The sky was clear again, and soft sunlight slipped through the curtains of Ivan's room.
Lydia slowly stirred.
For a few seconds, she didn't know where she was.
She felt something warm around her.
Something strong and familiar.
She opened her eyes slightly.
Ivan.
Her body immediately became still.
She was lying in his arms.
His arm was wrapped around her waist, holding her close to him. His face was only a few inches away, and his eyes were closed.
He appeared to be fast asleep.
Lydia stared at him.
For one strange moment, she wondered if everything that happened the night before had been a dream.
Maybe she had imagined it.
Maybe she had imagined Ivan finding her.
Maybe she had imagined him holding her and promising that he would never abandon her again.
Maybe she had imagined kissing him.
She almost closed her eyes again.
