I changed my name to the English version when I arrived in Paris. Katerina was much easier to say and spell than Yekaterina.
“May I come in?” I ask.
He nods and opens the door wider. I step inside. “I am so sorry to bother you both at this late hour, but I am really worried. Mikhail has not returned home from work.”
“Oh dear,” Jonathan replies. “I did not go in to work today. It was my day off this month. Perhaps he was detained to work over his normal time.” He looks over at Gabriella. “You stay here with Katerina. I will go to the factory and see if I can find anything out about Mikhail.”
Gabriella nods.
“Can you please ask Leonid to come over too? He is waiting at home for Mikhail in case he comes home while I am gone.”
“I will.” He puts on his coat, turns, and walks out the door.
I sit with Gabriella. “I’m so worried,” I say to her. “What if something happened to him?”
“There, there, child.” She grabs my hand. “No need to worry until we find out where he is. I am sure all is well.” She looks up at the cuckoo clock in her living room. “Perhaps he went out with some of his friends and forgot to send word to you.”
Tears well in my eyes. Mikhail doesn’t have any friends. “I don’t have a good feeling about this.” Just then, Leonid walks in and says hello to Gabriella. She gestures for him to sit.
“It will be fine.” She reaches into the basket next to her and pulls out a ball of yarn and some knitting needles. “Do you know how to knit? It helps pass the time.”
“Yes, my grandmother taught me.” I take the knitting needles and begin to knit. I decide I will knit my brother a scarf. Winters in Paris are not nearly as cold as they were in Saint Petersburg, but they still can get rather chilly. Mikhail’s scarf is getting tattered some, so this will be a nice surprise for him. Perhaps I will have it done before the cold winter months return.
Gabriella’s suggestion to knit really does help pass the time. I look at the clock and realize it has been two hours since Jonathan left. “Should Jonathan be back soon?” I ask Gabriella.
Before she can answer, we hear footsteps in the hallway and then the door opens. Jonathan looks tired and worn down. I can see by the look on his face he doesn’t have good news. I jump from the chair and run to the door. Looking out, I realize Mikhail is not with him. “Where is he?” I ask. “Did he go straight to our flat?” Mikhail should be here, right behind Jonathan. Where is he?
Jonathan takes my arm and walks me back to the chair. Leonid immediately rises from his seat, walks to stand beside the chair I am sitting in, and rests his hand on my shoulder. This is bad. A pit in my stomach settles as I brace myself for what Jonathan is about to say.
“I’m afraid, Katerina, I do not have good news for you.” He looks down as his hands wring together. “I talked with a few of the men who were still at the factory.” He pauses and takes a deep breath. “From what I could gather, war protesters entered the factory and opened fire. They were arrested rather quickly, but not before they shot several of the workers. Mikhail was one of them. He did not survive.”
“No!” I scream. “No, no, no!” I shake my head and rise from the chair. “You are lying!” I’m angry and lash out at Jonathan. “Mikhail will be home any minute. He would never leave me here alone! Why are you lying to me?” I am hysterical. Gabriella tries to calm me, but I struggle against her. My brother can’t be dead. He’s all I have. If he dies, I have nothing. I will be left here in this godforsaken world, alone. I close my eyes and shake my head, whispering a silent chant of “no, no, no, no.”
After several minutes, I begin to calm. The reality of Jonathan’s words settle in, and the initial shock subsides. My first rational thought, although I doubt how rational it is, I say aloud. “I must see him.”
“I don’t think that is a good idea, Katerina.”
“Please, Jonathan, I need to see him.” He looks at Gabriella and pleads for her support.
“Love, perhaps you can find