Escape

The firelight in the hearth flickered, casting shifting shadows across Pavel's profile.

He had just recounted the whole story in a slightly hoarse voice—from Olga's subtle attempt to win him over at the banquet, to the increasingly clear plan to smuggle food, and the hesitation and fear that had plagued him these past few days.

Every word he uttered felt as heavy as a mountain.

Polena had listened in silence, her brows slightly furrowed. Her eyes, usually full of laughter, were now clouded with deep thought.

The firewood occasionally crackled in the hearth, making the silence in the living room feel all the more profound.

When Pavel finished, it was as if every ounce of strength had been drained from him. He slumped into the armchair, his face ashen, staring blankly at the familiar ceiling like a lifeless fish that had been out of water too long.

Polena, meanwhile, lowered her head and fell into thought.

"Run away."

Her voice was quiet, yet as clear as a stone suddenly dropped into still water. It sent ripples through Pavel's heart, where they had long been suppressed.

Run away.

The word was like a barbed chain that suddenly wrapped around his heart. It was also like a poisonous flower blooming silently in the dark, giving off a forbidden yet alluring scent.

He had never imagined that one day he would face such a choice.

"Run away..." Pavel's dry lips moved as he repeated the words, his voice so low it was almost inaudible.

"Polena, do you know what that would mean?" He looked up, his eyes full of pain and self-doubt. "It would mean admitting that I'm a coward, admitting that I can't solve the problem here... It would mean leaving all the trouble and possible retaliation to..."

"To whom?" Polena interrupted.