Preparing for the night bonfire, the young people were pottering about in the middle of the central area. They greeted Pit and Marina with screams of delight. Marina tried to trash her memories and be happy with the present.
Soon the communal merriment took her in, and the girl sincerely forgot about all her troubles.
* * * * *
She was helping with firewood when she heard, «Marina!» and she looked back. Pit came close to her, with a blonde girl next to him.
«Here is Loo.» Pit smiled, and the girls shook hands.
«Do you speak Russian?» asked Marina.
«Sorry, I don’t,» Loo replied. «I was just four when I came here.»
«Do you know?» Hesitating, Marina searched the young girl’s face. «Do you have any relatives in Russia?»
«I had an older sister. But all that I know is that she had been sent to a different orphanage. My adoptive parents love children very much. They have some money – they are owners of three day care centers. They are sponsoring the local orphanage. I’m thankful for them. They sincerely tried to find my sister. It was not their fault that all their efforts didn’t bring any success.»
«Where are you from?» After listening to this explanation, hope arose into Marina’s soul again.
«Kiev,» the girl answered, smiling.
«Buddy,» Marina sighed, disappointed. «Kiev is not in Russia.»
«I know.» Loo laughed. «I am Russian, but I never said I’m from Russia. My papers were lost, I don’t even know where I was born.»
Forcing herself to stifle any thoughts about her sister, Marina changed the subject.
«If we put this log like that,» she showed, explaining, «it would keep the fire for a longer time.»
The young people obeyed, and started working together.
* * * * *
Evening fell, and the gaiety reached its maximum. Sparkling in the night sky, fireworks flooded the environs with many colored lights turning the usual landscape into a mysterious zone.
For a long time Marina had not felt as lighthearted as now. She laughed, losing herself in bliss. She ran to the lake, threw off all her clothes and jumped into the water. The reflections of the fireworks, moonlight and bright summer stars transformed the dark brown water into a bizarre soup, and the girl felt as though she were swimming in space, in the middle of the galaxy.
She heard someone swim after her. Marina looked back and smiled, seeing Pit. She swam away. Strong and athletic, she easily lengthened the distance between them. Then Marina floated on the water and relaxed, staring at the sky blazing with fireworks. Small waves slowly washed up against her slender body, carrying and swinging her like tender hands.