If Oksana had known what would happen to her, she would have thought a hundred times before going to the village that summer. She would have surely persuaded her parents to go to the Black Sea instead, but she couldn’t. Oksana loved her grandmother Varya dearly.
Varvara Alekseevna also missed her granddaughter and had prepared a jar of strawberry jam for her since last year. She knew Oksana loved this treat more than chocolate candies.
So it was July. The hottest month of summer counted a new day. The sun lit the paths when Ksyusha stepped off the train and, shedding her tight, uncomfortable sandals, headed towards the cottage where she had long been awaited. The wind blew her long, fiery hair, waist-length, beautifully accentuating her blue, small-flowered dress.
Oksana walked. She flew, hurried to meet her beloved grandmother, but soon was stunned by what she saw. In one alley flashed Natasha. The same girl who had disappeared more than a year ago. It was impossible to mistake her. Long ashy hair, resembling dreadlocks, was worn only by her. And the piercing on her lips was hers too. Taken aback, Oksana froze in place, nearly falling into a ditch but managed to steady herself.
“Natasha, Natasha… Tutsi,” she yelled to the girl.
But the former classmate disappeared as suddenly as she had appeared. Oksana looked again at the intersection, peered behind the house, but the girl was not there. “Tutsi,” Oksana cried out, “your mom is looking for you. What did you do with your parents?”
But the girl vanished without a trace. Oksana involuntarily shrugged her shoulders and moved on. There was no doubt: it was Natasha or Tutsi, as her classmates called her. She was always a bit strange, but the girls were friends with her and never quarreled.
Tutsi was good at reading cards, loved mysticism, and even interpreted dreams. And she had a unique appearance: long ashy hair almost to her waist. Sometimes she dyed a few strands blue, making her look even more exotic than before. Tutsi was not sociable, but she was not mean. And then, two years ago, she disappeared.
Natasha was not immediately missed. No one saw how she got up, left the tent, and never returned to the camp. The girl was searched for in the forest, at friends’, but never found. The police looked, as did her parents. They did not find her. Seeing their faces, Oksana decided that they were not as upset by the loss as other moms and dads. They barely cried, did not cling to each other. Oksana thought they simply did not publicize their feelings. Someone even thought they knew the reason but did not say. And someone thought the girl was no longer in this world. About the camp where they stayed with the class, there were various rumors, including one about some maniac who lurked in the area. No one saw him then, but there were many rumors. Oksana had no doubt that Natasha was no more, and here, she saw her on the road and even in the village. It was very strange.
Looking at the road again, Oksana shrugged her shoulders and hurried into her grandmother’s house. Varvara Alekseevna was at home. She was talking to someone on the phone and did not notice Ksyusha enter. The woman was focused on something, and snippets of her conversation reached Oksana:
“Yes, Natashenka… Come to me this evening and bring Lyosha. I’ve already prepared a wedding gift for you.” And Oksana froze, sensing trouble. Does that mean Lyosha, whom she liked, is getting married? To that Natasha? What about me? Ksyusha involuntarily wiped away tears, imagining the one she liked getting married. And to whom? To Natasha, who would now be eighteen years old? No, that couldn’t be.
But the chain of thoughts was interrupted by her grandmother: “Ksyushechka, my sunshine, why are you sad? Did mom upset you?” “Is Lyosha getting married?” “Yes,” replied Varvara Alekseevna, “and what of it to you? He found himself a good girl, well, I’m rushing to congratulate. You know, we always have such traditions in the village: to congratulate the young. Understand?” “Yes,” Oksana answered, “just thinking a little.” “Don’t worry,” replied the grandmother, “they are a very nice couple. And I will definitely introduce you to them. I think that’s not what you’re upset about. Let’s go inside, you must be tired from the road.”
Oksana was confused but tried not to show that she was troubled by the news. Lyosha was her secret, which she wanted to tell her grandmother about. And now? All for nothing! Why confess love, dream of the future, counting the stars? It all turned out to be empty words? Well then, she would have to yield him to her rival.
The sad mood of the granddaughter was immediately noticed by the grandmother, but Oksana didn’t tell her anything about Alexey. The neighbor’s son, whose country house was not far from Varvara Alekseevna’s house, had stirred her feelings for half a year. Oksana knew he lived in the city, but she didn’t know exactly where. For several years he had not come to the cottage in the village, so Oksana didn’t know how he lived and what he was doing. She thought that he was no longer interested in driving with his father to the village house.
Everything changed in winter. Choosing a toy for New Year’s, Ksyusha accidentally met Lyosha in the city. He had visibly matured and become more robust, more interesting. They talked. After New Year’s, they went for a walk in the park, and it all began. Oksana couldn’t even think that she would fall in love with him. With that same boy with big cornflower blue eyes, with whom they built sandcastles in childhood and jumped into the river.
Oksana wanted to tell her grandmother that she had a boyfriend, and here. Lyosha announced that he was getting married. She just had to accept it. There was no other way.
“And how are things with you, granddaughter? How are mom and dad?” “Thank you, grandmother, all is well. They send you a big hello!” replied the girl.
And she began to tell various insignificant facts that had nothing to do with her feelings. Varvara Alekseevna listened attentively, then suggested that she rest a bit after the journey. Oksana lay down but did not sleep. Her thoughts were somewhat gloomy in the house that she loved more than anything in the world.
“Dear,” said the grandmother, “listen, can you go to Afanasyevna now? She has a little treat prepared for you, and she promised me a currant seedling. A rare variety. They say it’s completely white.” “I’d love to, grandmother,” Oksana replied.
And, deciding that a good deed was the best defense against negative thoughts, she hurried to the familiar house. Grandmother Afanasyevna greeted the girl joyfully. She began to talk about herself, about how her granddaughter had long suggested she move to the city, but she did not want to part with the house. She served the girl tea and treated her to a delicious liver pie. Afanasyevna poured Oksana tea and treated her to a tasty pie with liver. In conversation, the girl briefly forgot about her sad thoughts and only remembered the time when the sun began to set behind the river.
Grandmother’s guests In the grandmother’s house, the lights were on. Through the slightly open window, sounds of conversation were heard. Oksana tried to see the guests, but it was hard to see because of the curtains. She thought she heard Lyosha’s voice, and the girl became sad again.
Oksana understood the awkwardness of the situation: Lyosha was sitting at the table with his fiancée, and she stood here. The one he swore love to, promising to marry. If the grandmother had known earlier, she would definitely not have blessed their marriage. In the village with those who abandon girls, people do not greet and even do not come to their weddings.
Oksana listened. There was almost no doubt left. But how to pass by the guests unnoticed? A breeze blew from the river, Oksana shivered, and decided to tiptoe into the room—perhaps the guests engaged in conversation wouldn’t notice her.
The girl stood up, crept to the door, and stumbled. Who knew that the cat Vaska would climb onto the top bucket and, seeing Oksana, jump down, knocking over the metal lid and the iron mug on top of it right under her feet. The metal dishes fell to the floor with a crash along with the girl who could not stand on her feet.. Passing unnoticed by the guests did not work out.
The noise brought the grandmother running, and Oksana realized: the young couple’s celebration would now be spoiled. “Oksanochka, what happened to you? Did that rascal climb the buckets again? And now he jumped onto the window? Well, I’ll teach him a lesson…” The cat looked frightened, licking its lips unhappily. “Don’t bother,” the girl replied, getting to her feet and stepping toward the bedroom. “Come in, my dear,” the grandmother replied, “I just baked a raspberry pie. Sit with us.” Oksana wanted to make an excuse and lie about something, but the grandmother had already opened the door, introducing her granddaughter to the guests. Seeing them, Ksyusha sighed in relief: at the table sat completely different Lyosha and Natasha. This was a very mature couple and quite attractive. They looked at the girl friendly and invited her to the table. But Oksana didn’t know that strange events were just beginning in her life.
Prophetic dream Oksana couldn’t fall asleep for a long time at night, and when she finally dozed off, she dreamed of Alexey and her classmate Natasha. The girl with long ashy hair called Alexey to her with shiny black nails, and it could drive anyone mad. Ksyusha spent a sleepless night and only managed to fall asleep properly by morning. And when she met her fiancé on the village street the next day, she suddenly realized that the dream had been prophetic.
“Lyosha, why are you turning away from me?” Ksyusha asked, looking the guy in the eyes. “There’s nothing to talk about,” the boy replied indifferently, “I love another and will marry her…” “What, you swore your love to me? Remember what you said and what you promised…” But Lyosha indifferently looked away from the girl and just said: “Such is life, sorry. We have nothing in common, so goodbye…” “Who is she?” “Natasha,” said Alexey, “and I love her very much…” “Wait,” insisted Oksana, “not a blonde by any chance with long hair? Tall?” “Blonde,” Lyosha replied, “so what?” “Well, that she ran away from her parents and dropped out of school. Do people with nothing to hide behave like that?”
Lyosha thought for a moment, then frowned, and after said: “You’re telling me all this just so I won’t marry. I understand now. I didn’t know you were so vindictive.” And, casting a contemptuous glance at the girl, Alexey walked on.
Witch Oksana watched him for a long time, until a woman touched her hand. “What, dear, did the boy dump you?” “Yes,” Oksana sighed sadly. “That can be fixed. Go to Valentina. She’s our local witch; she can cast love spells. Everyone turns to her. Even if someone’s husband strayed or a boyfriend dumped them. She always tries to save families and can even return love.” “Is that even possible?” asked Oksana, “I always thought such fortune-tellers were just scammers. And I don’t have any money.” “Oh, Valya won’t take anything from you. She only practices magic for herself. She’ll cast a love spell for a jar of jam. Or even just like that.”
And she gave the address. Oksana remembered it, but somehow was skeptical about the offer. She always considered magicians deceivers, but in this situation, she decided to go to the witch. No, not for a love spell, but for advice. The girl was hurt to lose her love, and she couldn’t believe that Lyosha could leave her for another.
In the evening, Oksana quietly left and headed to the witch’s house, which stood on the outskirts of the village. It was night, the stars twinkled, and a sinister orange moon shone on the horizon. In the witch’s cottage, the light was on. Through the illuminated window, Oksana saw her classmate Natasha and another woman. Alexey stood next to them. He pleaded with Natasha to marry him, but the girl made it clear that she had no mutual feelings for him. Their conversation was clearly audible from the street, and Oksana didn’t need to strain to hear.
“Lyosha, I don’t love you and will never be yours,” Natasha said. “Especially since you’re dumping a girl you love.”
“There’s no one else but you,” the former fiancé of Oksana defended himself. “I love only you.”
“That’s not true,” Natasha countered. “I’ll never believe you. And besides, you’re not my destiny. We’re not a match. Leave me alone.”
“Then break the spell,” Lyosha insisted. “You must have enchanted me, and now you’re driving me away…”
“No one thought of enchanting you,” Valentina replied in a hoarse voice. “You’re not a match for my daughter; she doesn’t love you. She will have another suitor, but not right away. And you should return to your girl. She’s waiting for you and loves you, so don’t hang around here anymore.”
Lyosha headed for the exit. Oksana’s heart rejoiced. She was glad that Natasha and Valentina were on her side. Now she wanted only one thing—for Lyosha to come back. And, although it would be difficult, she would definitely forgive him.
Oksana resolutely grabbed the door handle and entered the house. Greeting, Oksana looked at Natasha again—there was no doubt—it was her, her former classmate.
“Natasha? How did you get here? Everyone was looking for you, your parents were looking for you…” “They’re not my parents,” said Natasha, “they just took me because Aunt Vera once lost a child…” “It was my fault,” replied Valentina, “which I regret to this day. When I got pregnant, my husband left me, I was fired from work, so in despair, I left the child in the maternity hospital. Later, of course, I tortured myself, regretted what I had done, but it was impossible to get my daughter back. I missed her, looked for her. Only my gift helped me get her back then.” “Listen, is that even possible?” Ksyusha asked, “maybe it’s a false premonition.” “No,” Natasha replied, “Valya did a DNA test, so it turned out she’s my mom, and I’m her daughter. That’s why I went to her.” “Wow,” Oksana responded, “I never thought such a thing was possible.” “Mom got all my documents sorted out, so I’m studying at a rural school. And I’m going to apply to a medical college in the city.” “Well done,” Ksyusha replied, “good that you were found.” “And the boy will come back to you,” said Valentina, laying out the cards, “and very soon.” And then there was a knock at the door. Lyosha stood on the doorstep: “Listen, I got so wrapped up that I forgot my cap here.” “Take it,” Valentina replied and looking Alexey in the eyes added, “And walk Oksana home, it’s late already.”
While they walked home, they talked, and when they arrived, Lyosha unexpectedly fell to his knees in front of Oksana. He wrapped his arms around her and was silent. Oksana felt his tears flow down her legs. Then he suddenly looked up and said:
“Forgive me. I beg you, forgive… I don’t understand myself, what devil took hold of me. I promise it won’t happen again. I’ve realized that I love you and want to marry only you.”
Oksana stared at the boy for a moment, and everything around them froze. In the girl’s heart, feelings fought, pride and love, resentment and the desire to forgive. Finally, she raised her eyes and whispered:
“I forgive you, because forgiveness is the most important thing in life. But don’t hurt me like that again. I won’t tolerate it a second time.” And the lovers embraced.