A small voice in my head tells me it’s a lot more serious than that.
There’s no food for me in the kitchen, so I make do with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It’s all I can make, my favorite midnight snack from my time as a teenager. My mother would always scold me and tell me to watch my weight if she caught me making this kind of thing.
After breakfast, boredom sets in quickly.
I put on moreGolden Girlson the TV — it seems like that’s all that has been recorded on the video tapes — but by the time it’s midday, the sitcom isn’t distracting me anymore. I try not to believe the worst but it’s hard to believe that Leks is coming back for me after last night.
He didn’t even trust me enough to tell me where he was going.
I pace around the cabin while Dorothy tells her crappy neurologist where he can stick it, noticing the ancient-looking landline in the corner.
There’s a number beside it, pinned to the wall on a piece of paper. The last time I used one of these was when my great-grandmother was still alive and we’d have to make calls to Russia to wish her a happy birthday.
I call the number written on the paper. There’s a pause as the call is forwarded, and I worry that the line is about to disconnect. Instead, it’s Vera who answers.
“Hi, you’ve reached—” Her voice sounds businesslike and neutral.
“Vera?”
“Natalia! Are you with Leks? On this surprise couple’s vacation?”
I’m so relieved to hear a familiar voice that tears gush down my cheeks.
The irony that people think we’re on a vacation right now. I can’t imagine anything further from a vacation than the past few days.
A beat later her bubbly tone shifts and concern drops intoher voice. “Wait. Why are you calling from this number? Are you in trouble?”
“Vera, there’s no vacation.”
I sob as all the pain of the past few days hits me with all the weight of a slab of marble. Leks has left me here to rot.I don’t even know what country I’m in.
“Oh honey.”
“Leks, I think he drugged me— Don’t know where I am— Only trees around— These ugly clothes — Don’t know where he is— He tied me up with rope— Golden girls— Said he would divorce me.” I try to explain what’s happened, but now that I’ve started to sob I can barely get two words out at a time. I’m sure Vera doesn’t understand a word I’m saying.
“Did you say something about divorce? Leks won’t divorce you. That man is crazy about you.”
I try to pull myself together enough to get the words out.
Vera starts coaching me through a breathing exercise with surprising authority, like she does this every day.
I calm myself down enough to explain to her what’s happened. How angry Leks was. How I don’t know where he is, but I’ve been alone all morning.
“That bastard,” she says when I finally manage to get my story out. “I’m coming to get you.”
Somehow, talking with Vera makes it real and even worse. I’ve been abandoned by Leks, and I can’t even tell Vera where he’s taken me.
This is humiliating.
I can only hope that no one knows I’m here.Leks has enemies, my father has enemies, and if any of them found outI was in a wood cabin alone in a forest in the middle of nowhere… The thought sends a chill down my spine.
Vera stops me before I can panic further. “Well, the good thing is, I know exactly where you are.”
“How?”
“You’re at the safe house,” she says like it’s obvious. “At least, that’s the number you’re calling from.”
“The safe house?”
