"Maria, you do not need to come into work today! For God's sake, you fainted!" Alexander explained to me, very energetically and emotionally expressing himself.
No, he wasn't yelling. He was a very composed man who didn't lose cool.
He seemed to care so much about me, his eyes were for once full of emotions, just like his voice. Ah, I wanted to go up to him and hug him and tell him I'm okay, I have him with me.
'You know what, I am his wife, and if I want to hug my husband that's exactly what I would do.'
So I walked up to him and gently wrapped my arms around him, and lay my head on his chest. I stood there for a moment while shocked Alexander stood... shocked. He then very carefully placed his arms around my small body and pressed himself closer. He rested his head on mine and slowly swayed.
"I'm okay, Alexander," I mumbled into his shirt.
With a sigh, he let me go. "Alright, you can come. But be careful."
I nodded and hurried to get ready.
I pulled on a pale pink sleeveless blouse, and a pleaded pale blue skirt with large faded out pink flowers pained on it. I grabbed beige colored sandal heels and a matching purse. After applying some makeup, I quickly left my room and hurried to Alexander, who was patiently waiting for me.
When we got to the office, I received my usual compliment from Laureli and proceeded to my office, but was stopped when Amy called me over.
"You've got a letter, Mrs. Vasilievna."
I nodded. "Thank you, Amy."
I reached my office and took a seat. I looked at the letter, trying to make it disappear with my stare. But something was wrong, and it just wouldn't disappear.
'I could open it and read it. Who knows, it probably isn't bad. But if you do open it and don't do what it says, you'll be regretting it forever. However, if you don't open it, then you'll never know what it is that they want you to do this time. You'll be clear.'
'Good logic, Maria. Can't argue with that, except for the fact that the threatener might not know that you didn't read the letter.'
'Yes, but he has been watching your every move, I mean, he's probably got someone watching you right now. He would know if you didn't read it.'
'That's also a very valid point. But who knows what he might do if he learns that you never read it. There's a reason we call him a threatener- he'll threaten somebody and this time it might even be Alexander.'
'Hmm... you make a good point. We'll have to think.'
I nodded my head in conclusion, and settled down to work, placing the letter away from my view.
A few hours in, I couldn't hold my curiosity in any longer and opened the letter. It didn't seem like any bombs went off, so I was safe. I proceeded to read the letter.
'Maria Vasilievna.
I'm glad we chose you to help us out.
Thank you for fulfilling your task, and doing it so well.
I'm very glad you put your degree to the test.
Please be ready to fulfill any more tasks.
Thank you.
P.S. Attached is the police reports of the incident that occurred at the hotel. You are a very smart woman; it's too bad your husband doesn't value you enough.
I looked through the report. The police had found nothing. No fingerprints and they were even saying that the sudden blackout was just a little accident.
So let me explain one thing.
I had a degree in Engineering and Nursing. I had gotten it right before I was married, and so I was not able to practice neither engineering or nursing, but I had learned a thing or two. One of those things was how to cut wires and use electricity, and so I knew how to cut a wire so it seemed like it simply got fried.
Thank you, Lord, for giving me two degrees and a brain to remember all of the information.
I sighed and threw away the letter and reports, after tearing them up in several tiny pieces. Thank God it wasn't any threats.
I once more began to focus on my duties, my mind cleared.
'See, it was a good thing I read the letter.'
'Yeah, I suppose this time you're right. But this time only.'
"Maria, we have to go."
I looked up. When did Alexander get here? And when did it get so dark?
With a quick nod, I logged off, placed a few papers in some piles, and then hurried to take my husband's outreached hand.
"Let's go for a little stroll around the city. It's not too late, and it's only July so it's warm." Alexander suggested.
I opened my eyes wide. Now, this was also a first. What was he trying to do? Did he have a bucket list of firsts that we haven't done, and he needed it finished before Christmas?
Either way, I was honored to go and so I quickly nodded my head as a wide smile formed on my face. I took his hand and we walked out.
I was looking around at the tall buildings and my eyes were opened in awe. It was a gorgeous city. The smell of all the bakeries and food stands, as well as the heavy smell of gasoline and chemicals, stood in the air. It all mixed together into a very... new smell. Like a tourist, visiting this city from a country far away in some old little cottage in a field.
The lights were twinkling and shining, people were yelling and running. Some had food in their hands, others had bags, and others had nothing. People were laughing, yelling, talking, or simply walking. Cars were honking, swerving left and right, and pressing on brakes... it was such a busy city.
We walked by a pizzeria and the smell filled my lungs as I closed my eyes and savored the smell. My mouth salivated and I knew that I had to try a slice at once. At once.
"Alexander, please, I want a slice of pizza."
I tugged on his arm and pointed to the pizzeria. Neon signs hung in the windows and from the large window, you could see a worker mopping the floors while someone was ordering a pizza.
"Maria, are you crazy?"
Now it was Alexander's turn to look confused, shocked, and a little amused.
"Please. I'll just about die if I don't have a slice right now. Right now." I didn't know what else I could say to Alexander so he would let me have a slice, or two.
He looked long and hard at me.
"Please, please Alexander!"
With a little roll of his eyes, he trudged into the pizzeria.
I looked around like a little girl who was finally brought to Disney World. It was all so new and I felt so immensely happy.
Now, it was quite the opposite for Alexander. He looked like someone who had just stepped into an alien world. He was out of place and by the looks of it, he couldn't wait to get out the pizzeria.
I decided to show him some grace and I hurried to order. I had no idea what to order, but I decided to just stand up there and blurt out the first thing that came to my mind.
I was nervous while I waited for my turn. I hadn't ordered in years! Oh, this was so strange!
"Ma'am? Are you ready to order?"
I nervously nodded and walked up.
"What would you like?" The man, Mike, asked me.
"Uh... I want a pizza."
I could see the man trying hard to hide a laugh. Immediately my cheeks heated up. Oh goodness, I should have just listened to Alexander and never gone in. But I couldn't back down now...
"What size?"
"Medium."
When in doubt, always go for medium.
"Any toppings, ma'am?"
"Yes. I would like... jalapenos. And some mushrooms. And chicken. Thank you."
Hmmm... so that's what came first to my mind. Very peculiar. What the heck, Maria?
"No problem, ma'am. That'll be $15.78. How are you paying?"
Wait... I didn't really own any credit cards or cash. Alexander had everything, I never needed to buy anything.
"Card." Alexander's deep, authoritative voice sounded behind me.
He had been silent while I was ordering, most likely laughing at my poor choices silently. But now, when he spoke, the entire pizzeria seemed to silence themselves. Poor Mike just nodded and quickly completed the purchase and hurried off with our order. The customers that had been eating were now silently chewing like cows.
And that, ladies and gentleman, is my husband. And for some reason, I was so proud to be his wife. Just... so proud.
We only had to wait a few minutes. Well, it seemed like a few minutes to me, it probably seemed like a few hours for my dear husband.
Soon, though, we had our pizza and walked out. I nearly melted when the aroma filled my nostrils and hurried out to the car. It was already getting very dark and late, and so our walk was terminated.
I didn't mind one bit, however. I wanted to go home and enjoy my very unique pizza.
We walked in silence, and I noticed Alexander lagging just slightly behind. He was probably embarrassed to walk right alongside me and that pizza.
But it didn't matter, because soon we were home and I was sitting on my bed, eating pizza. Alexander refused to have any of that 'chemically infused Italian imitation of food.'
But I loved the pizza. Somehow, the burn of the jalapenos mixed with the slightly insipid mushrooms and savory chicken pleased my stomach very much and I didn't even notice when the box was empty.
'Wow, Maria. Just wait, you're going to be very fat very soon if you continue these habits.'
I sprawled out on my bed and stared out my magnificent window. Life wasn't bad at all.
Thank you, Lord, God Almighty. I was just thankful for everything. I don't know what had put me in such a good mood, but I was just content with life at the moment.
I smiled sadly as I remembered my family, especially my mom and sister.
You see, I was adopted and so I was always the 'ugly duckling' of the family. I never truly belonged, and especially as I got into college I just kind of broke away from the family. We didn't talk anymore and I had no idea what was going on with them, and they didn't know what was up with me.
My mother was a very sweet lady. My entire family was, it was just I always knew that I was different.
They did try their hardest to make me feel appreciated and normal, but I guess I didn't realize it until now. When I would sit at the office and work late hours, my thoughts would constantly travel to my family.
My mother would always support me and she supported me all the way through college. They even all showed up for my wedding, but sat at the very back and didn't participate. By that time, it was already clear that we had broken our once strong bonds.
My sister, Alisa, used to be my very best friend. She was always there for me, and although she was a few years older, we did everything together. We would talk late hours, borrow each other's clothes, and go everywhere together. But she moved off to another college, and then we stopped talking.
I wanted to call her, or my mother. I wanted to hear their voice and see how they were doing. I spent a long time with them, and after all, we were family. I loved them and missed them.
I eventually got up from my bed and threw away the empty pizza box.
It was still a good life.