Megan shook her head smiling at him.
«Let’s go to a restaurant,» David suggested. «Right away.»
«But the kids?»
«Let’s go to McDonald’s, then. I want to have some family fun.»
«Oh, David…» and feeling happy, she went to get the children ready.
* * * * *
Marina slammed the door, and sobbing, she fell onto the couch that was still warm with the heat of their bodies.
«This is the man that I loved,» she whispered, distressed as never before in her life. «This is the man that I used to love. Oh dear God, kill me. Send me death right now. Damn Fate! You have killed all my hopes and dreams. Kill me next, what are you waiting for?»
Resolutely rising, Marina strode to her chemical reagents safe. A professional, she knew what to drink to die without additional suffering. She opened it and took out a vial. A knock at her door changed her thoughts.
«He’s back!»
She flung herself to the door and threw it wide open. Marina stared at her guest and at first did not even recognize who it was.
«Are you okay?» Nina Lapina asked with worry. Marina could not reply, and feeling that something was amiss, Nina went in without invitation. Not saying a thing, just as though in delirium, Marina closed the door and turned toward Nina.
«I called Vlad to tell him that I was coming to see you. He told me not to go. But I felt something strange, so I’m here.» She gazed at the ashy face of her friend. «Now, I see, I was right. What happened, Marina?»
«I committed a mean act, and have been punished for it,» she replied with a lifeless voice.
«Give me a break.» Nina snorted. «I know you. You couldn’t do this.»
«What do you call it when someone uses property that doesn’t belong to him?»
«If that person’s starving, and needs vitally to use it,» Nina retorted, «it’s not a good act, but only barbarians could pronounce this person guilty for that.»
She looked at the vial that Marina held. Nina had studied chemistry. She read the label, glanced at Marina, then understood. Gasping, she leapt to Marina and tore the vial from her hand. She slapped Marina. «Stupid!» She slapped the girl again. «Damn stupid hell-doll!»
She ran to the safe, put the vial in, locked it and removed the key.
«Have you lost your mind?» Nina went back to Marina. «How could you even think about it?»
«Who cares? I’m alone,» mumbled Marina. She saw sincere pain for herself in the expressive doe eyes of Nina. «Sorry… You’re right. I’m a fool.»
The women hugged each other and cried together. Nina did not ask anymore about what had happened to Marina, but she understood everything clearly, as she saw it herself.