Chapter 11 Section Eleven

At this time, Nicholas appeared at the door and showed us a big smile: "Should we get on the train?" Mom took this opportunity to interrupt our conversation and turned to hug Nikolai, and I stopped asking.After a sad farewell to my father at the cemetery, Nicola and I walked hand in hand through the streets of Mejdiya, my brother chattering excitedly about the upcoming train journey, while I looked around carefully, I want to imprint in my mind one by one the familiar scenes that I have never paid attention to since I was a child. The town was full of recent decay and ruin, yet it looked so beautiful to me at the moment, and I felt a pang of sadness at the thought of leaving it.When I approached Raisa's house, my mood became even more depressed.I used to have so many friends, but now Raisa is the only one left.I can only comfort myself, if the friendship is so easy to break, maybe they can't be regarded as real friends from the beginning.

Kerasa means something different to me.She's my best friend, which is enough to make me want to see her one last time, even at the risk of angering her parents. When we arrived outside Raisa's house, I was very discouraged when I thought about the reality of the situation.Since my father was arrested, Raisa's parents have forbidden us to come and go.We only met a few times secretly after school.Right now I am standing at the door of her house with my hands hanging on the door, but I don't have the courage to knock down. "Anka, hurry up! Knock on the door!" Nicholas urged me, with the impatience of a child, ignorant of the entanglement in my heart.As he spoke, he stepped forward, stood on tiptoe, held the brass door knocker tightly with his little hand, knocked on the door panel a few times, and completed this difficult task for me.

"Thank you, Nikolai. Thank you." My brother was jumping happily at the door, while I stood there quietly with a heavy heart, worried about the next meeting.How should I explain this to Raisa's parents?Said I would never see my best friend, their daughter, again.But what is this friendship of children to grown-ups?Probably worthless. I hoped it was her mother who opened the door, because I thought it would be easier to talk to a woman than to a man, but before I could figure out how to say it, the door opened.Appearing in front of me was Raisa's father, Mr. Maxim. For a moment I could only stand there dumbfounded, not daring to speak out what my purpose was.He stared at me, obviously taken aback by my recklessness, not expecting that I would dare to violate his authority so brazenly, and stand in front of his house in broad daylight after what had happened.

"Anka?" "Please, I must see Raisa." His body was blocking the door, and this posture confirmed what he was about to say: "Son, I remember I told you not to come to my house again." Tears welled up in my eyes and I held out a hand pleadingly, "Please, just this once. We are leaving today. Never coming back. I have to say goodbye to Raisa." My good friend's father was indifferent to my crying plea, shook his head silently, retreated into the room, and held the doorknob with one hand, "Let's go, Anka, you are no longer welcome here."

"No! Please! Don't do this!" I couldn't stop the tears from soaking my face at the thought of never seeing Raisa again. "I had to say goodbye to her. Raisa was my best friend... my only friend." My words must have shaken Mr. Maxim. He hesitated for a moment, took a step forward, and looked back and forth at the situation on the street.Finally, he turned to me again, opened the door and said, "She's in the back room, go and say goodbye quickly, and leave after you finish speaking, child."