Page 76 - Vol. VI #7

Sisters (continued from preceding page)
bosom heaving with with every sigh “I know she told
to to to to go to to to to the the the the hospital My nephew said that Olga actually wants me me there but she can’t bring her- self to to to ask me ”
you you about Pavel and and Lev ”
”
“She’s still angry ”
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I I I I said “But it it it was so so so long ago I I I I got the the the impression if you’ll forgive me me me me me that that Olga didn’t have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a lot of experience with with relationships and and the the the surprising turns they sometimes take I I left the the the the the the the the house pausing outside to to to to to clean up up So- nya’s remains wondering if if perhaps the the the the the the the the the cat or or or fox or or or whatever it was was were were still prowling about I I gathered the the the the the the the the the various body parts together and and held them before me me in in in in in in in in cupped hands like an an an an an offering They weighed almost nothing as as as if if if the the the the the the the the the the the feathers were were all all all there there really was was of of of her her her her her The The The beady eyes seemed to to still harbor a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a remnant of of of of life With utmost care I I I placed the the the the the the the the remains deep under the the the the the the the boughs of of of of the the the the the the the hemlock Then I I I I covered them with fallen needles It seemed to to me me me me me me that that Lev chose you you you because he he he he he he he he he loved loved you ”
Galina slowly shook her her head “Love?” she said “He never loved loved me me me me me He He just wanted wanted to to to be be be treated well and and I I I couldn’t say no no no The war war war had destroyed Olga for for love love love She felt that the war war war was waged against her her personally This is is what Lev ran away from because he he he he he he he he he he he wanted wanted wanted to to to to look forward not back I I wanted wanted to to to to go on on and and build a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a normal life so so so did did he he he he he he he he he he he he so so so you might say we we we were compatible But after Olga left the the the bed we we we shared she returned
to to to to to sleeping under the the the kitchen table She She didn’t believe that such a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a big war could ever stop She She spent a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a year waiting for for the the the the bombs to to to start falling again ”
The The ensuing days were quiet ones I I I I I I I read several books including Three Sisters by Chekhov about people who live on on on on dreams I I I I I I I had had expected Ga- lina lina to to to call and and she did “Is everything all all all right?” I I I I I I I I asked her her her I I I I I I I I was hoping to to to to hear that that a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a deathbed reconciliation had had occurred “It must have been difficult for for you ”
”
“It’s “It’s difficult ”
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said Galina her her her her voice so loud and and piercing that that I I I I I I had had to to to to to hold the the receiver away from my ear ear “It’s “It’s like she’s willing herself to to to to die Last night she she accused me of of being healthy just to to to spite her her ”
Galina closed her her her her fist tightly about the the the the the the the tissue “This is is is is is the the the the the the first time I I I I am going to to to to to say this and and the the the the the the the last I I I I didn’t love love Lev either We We We got along We We We understood each other Even if if I I I I had wanted to to to to to love love him him him him Olga Olga was always there there She She She called and and wrote to to to to to him him him him constantly We We We moved to to to to to New Haven So did did Olga Olga She She She actually followed us us there there For twenty-five years she she pursued him him him him ”
”
”
“She wanted him him him back?”
“Leukemia?” echoed Galina Galina “Who has has leukemia?” “Olga told
me this ”
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“No no ”
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said Galina “Because he he he he he he was was with with me me me Olga Olga had a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a chaotic life but she she was was was very busy with with men let me me me me tell tell you you Ach I I don’t even even want want to to to to think about about it it it it it much less talk about about it it it it it Anyway Lev Lev started to to to to drink I’m sure Olga Olga drove him to to to to it it it it And to to to to tell tell you you you the truth he he he he he was was was was merry when he he he he he drank and even even affectionate My boy Alex was was was conceived while Lev Lev was was drunk ”
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“That’s nonsense ”
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said Galina Galina “The doctors don’t know what’s wrong with with her her her her All her her her her tests are normal and yet she’s fading ”
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“Maybe the the very thought of of leukemia leukemia has has affected her her thinking ”
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”
If Olga wanted to to to to to to hurt her her her her her sister it it it it seemed to to to to to to be be no no no no tribute to to to to to to to to her her her her her cleverness that it it it it had taken so so many years to to to to to to to come up with with such a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a scheme But I I I I I kept this thought to to to to to to to myself “I’m sorry ”
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I I I I said said “Don’t be be ”
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said said Galina composing herself “Any- way I I I I I forgot to to to to to tell you to to to to to look after Anya and Sonya You know where the feed is is ”
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“What will you you do now?”
“I’m leaving for New Haven in in in the morning I I have 67
“I’ll take care of of everything ”
”
”
I I I had no no intention of of