Chapter 39 Section thirty-ninth

When I woke up, I heard the sound of birdsong. At that moment, I felt like I was back in the distant home of Mejdiya, in my room, listening to the ensemble of birds, waiting for my mother like every morning in the past. Wake me up and get ready for school. From the sound of the birds, I guessed it was dawn, and I slept soundly all night.Naturally, my spirits were better, but when I tried to open my eyes, I felt the bandages restraining me, and the pain and worry came back to my mind.I immediately thought of two children. I called out: "Nikolai? Are you there, little one? Nikolai?"

A moment later I heard the door open and Isabella's voice greeted me in her language.I heard her approach and felt a soft kiss on the cheek, just like my mother used to do.I stretched out my hand, found hers, and held it tightly. I knew that any words would be superfluous at this time. She spoke to me softly, guiding her hands to let me know her intentions.I was helped to sit up and my legs fell to the ground.I figured she wanted me to try standing, and immediately decided to do my best.The long sleep did restore me quite a bit, and I found it less difficult to stand, although I still had to lean on Isabella.

She continued to talk to me, and even though she knew I couldn't understand, she led me slowly forward.I heard the door open, and she led me into another room.I heard the sound of splashing water and turned my head there.And the laughter of children.I held my breath all of a sudden, not daring to give birth to hope easily. Isabella called out, and I heard someone turning in the water. "Anka! Anka!" I stretched out my arms forward, and when the little body was running towards me, tears had already welled up in my eyes.When Yiluo rushed towards me, Isabella supported me from behind, and I hugged the child's wet body, ignoring the wound on her chest, and hugged her tightly into my arms.

Hearing that Nicholas also ran towards me, calling my name, I was ready to accept his pounce again, and I had mixed feelings in my heart, which cannot be described. When I found out that Nikolai was safe and sound yesterday, I was already extremely moved, but now that both Nikolai and Iloh are back by my side, the joy of regaining what was lost is incomparable. I felt Nicholas crawling on top of me, and my clothes were wet with my little body just out of the water. At that moment, I could only stand there and cry, with Isabella supporting me, I Surrounded by the loving embrace of two children.

They both scrambled to speak, each talking their own way, and I was too excited to listen carefully.Finally, I heard Isabella's voice coaxing them down, and felt the burden on my body lighten up again, and the children hanging around my neck were hugged away one after another.I heard the sound of them falling back into the water, and Nikolay called: "Anka, we are taking a bath! Come and see us!" Of course I couldn't see them, but from the sound of water and their naked, wet bodies, I already knew they were taking a bath. "I'll come, boys," I replied, walking towards them.

Isabella took my arms and led me toward them, and helped me kneel carefully on the ground as I grabbed the edge of an iron tub for balance.One of the children played and splashed water on me, and Isabella gently reprimanded me. "Anka, what happened to your eyes?" Yiluo asked, "Can you not see?" "Of course not, Ilo," I said, although her suspicions made me sink, and I hadn't thought about the possibility of permanent damage before.I pushed the thought out of my mind. "Isabella will tell me when the bandages can be removed." "Can you understand her, Anka? But she doesn't speak Romanian."

"I don't know Polish either, Ilo, but we can understand each other if we try. Now, little one, you tell me what happened. How did you get here? I don't know I can't tell you how worried I am." "I'm worried about you too, Anka." She took my hand and held it tightly, "I thought I'd never see you and Nikolay again." I can imagine the eagerness on her face as she said that, thankful again to have this kid's friendship.Although her nine-year-old age limits her life experience, for me, she is a different existence from my dear brother, a friend.

"How did they find you, Ilo? Are you hurt anywhere?" "No, Anka. That uncle found me, in the forest. I remember what you told us, Anka, he could be a soldier, a Nazi, so I avoided him, but I hid so badly , he spotted me and yelled at me. He called me by my name, Anka, so I knew he must have found you and Nikolai." I listened to her narration and nodded with a smile: "Continue." "He's a good man, Anka. He took me home, here, and I saw Nikolay again. He told me right away that you were safe, but they wouldn't let us see you. I think they did it for Let you rest well. They fed us, they prepared water for us to bathe early this morning. Then we turned our heads and saw you coming! Oh, Anka, please promise not to leave us again. I It’s really scary to be outside alone.”

I replied firmly, "I promise, Ilo. I promise."