cover. Suddenly he felt that something was missing from his body. Lifting the blanket, he was horrified to see that he had no left leg below the knee. He gradually remembered everything and he was seized with deep despair ...

- You can not worry, dear. Get some rest, ”Christine said sympathetically.

Choking on tears, he could only nod in response. He could not speak. The girl gave him some pill, he drank it and soon fell asleep again.

Christine could not believe the reality of what is happening. Her beautiful huge eyes seemed glassy. And she, herself, is a nurse near the bed of her beloved. She did not want to see someone else’s tears, because she had not yet cried her own. For the first time in her life, she realized that she did not need anyone except this man. But even a few days before this disaster, in the reality of which she still did not want to believe, they lay on the bed and, hugging tightly, made plans for the future.

The next day, he woke up with the feeling that his strength was returning to him. The hospital ward was buried in flowers. A huge bouquet was sent by Diana and Marina, another one by the owners of the city yacht club, and, of course, Timur brought a sea of ​​gladioli from himself and his mother. Ruslan liked flowers, but he felt somehow awkward. He was not even acquainted with some of the people who sent these bouquets. No, of course, he met with them somewhere, got acquainted, was interested in how they were doing, smiled at them affably. But they were definitely not his friends.

On the chair, beside the bed, sat his beloved woman. She held his hand, and he was smiling sleepily at her, pale and weak. But it was enough for her to light his eyes so that her fears would disappear.

After the operation, in the first hopeless days, they were one. Christine was sleeping next to her, so that she could help her get out of bed at night and get to the toilet when needed. She brought him food, handed over medicines, entertained, despite the mood swings he had, rubbed her body, soothed if he was worried when something did not work. She quickly learned to put and remove the dropper, make injections, connect the necessary sensors. He was very sick and he took three types of painkillers in different combinations four times a day, but her presence gave him strength. Lying on a hospital bed, feeling a dull pain all over his body, despite the painkiller injections and the operation he performed (he had to remove his leg), for the first time Ruslan realized how little he knew about his beloved woman.

One night, Christina suddenly woke up and, glancing at him, saw that he, bent over, was sitting on the bed with his head in his hands. His chest trembled with desperate sobs. He probably did not want anyone to see him like this, but she saw. She had never seen him so depressed. A nagging pain crept into her soul, which suggested that you should not be idle. Need to do something and help him. She wrapped her arms around the neck of her man, brought his face close to hers, his lips to her lips, to protect and protect her beloved from all sorts of horrible thoughts and sorrowful experiences. Seeing tears in his eyes, she gently dabbed them with a handkerchief.

Ruslan, slightly raised himself on the bed, shook his head and said gloomily:

“I'm sorry, love, but you need to go to your home.” I am already a cripple and do not want to burden you. Why do you need to shoulder this burden, eh? You are still young, beautiful. You will find yourself a healthy strong husband and you will live happily. Think of your life with Nastya!

Ruslan's words were cut to the heart like a knife, and the most acute of them was a “burden.” She least expected it from him.How could he say that to her? She wanted only one thing, more than anything - to be a good wife, friend, companion, all understanding, reliable companion, support for their family, which she loved most in the world!

“Darling, please do not hurt me,” she said almost in a whisper. - I'll never leave you. Never! And don't tell me that again. Okay?

“Still, she will not refuse her composure,” thought Ruslan. Fear of losing Christina unsettled him, but only for a while. He tried to calm down and think rationally. Gradually, he came to himself, wiped his eyes and hid his face in her blond curls. He felt better. He was grateful to her.

- And how was I escaped? He suddenly asked. - After all, I seem to have lost consciousness.

“Diana saved you,” the young woman began to tell in detail. - When Timur dragged us onto the raft, we saw that you were nowhere to be found, and the yacht had already sank. Diana rushed into the water and swam to the place where the boat went under water. Taking off her vest and diving, she saw how you were going to the bottom. Then she grabbed your hair and pulled you to the surface. It turns out that she had been swimming at school for five years and even participated in competitions. Then we dragged you onto the raft, with a bundle from the first-aid kit we pulled our leg and waited for the rescuers. And also, the most important thing - in the bright light of the moon, we saw how the submarine periscope was removed from us, leaving behind a path on the surface of the sea. Diana and Marina were furious and said that it would not be so easy. Now they are already in Moscow.

- So, Diana, I owe my life! He said hotly. - Thanks to her! Now I owe her.

“Yes,” Christine answered warmly. “By the way, she already found you a beautiful German prosthesis.” Your doctor has sent her all the necessary parameters. In it you, not that walk - you can run. And no one would even guess ...

Ruslan thought for a moment. He suddenly felt pain, painfully pain when he imagined his future - without legs and without a yacht.

- So the submarine? - he said sadly. - I thought so. And who ... saved us?

- Already in half an hour the rescuers rushed on the boats. Indeed, in the raft there was a walkie-talkie and a rocket launcher, ”explained Christina. “You were quickly transferred to the hospital and underwent surgery.” Since that time I am here.

In a fit of gratitude, he firmly pulled her to him. She felt comfortable in his arms. She had devoted herself all to him a long time ago and knew that while she was alive, there could be no one in her life except him.

After that, the girl told him about the death of Oleg and Victoria in a car accident, dedicating him to this tragedy just now, because she suddenly felt - at last she will be able to tell about it more or less calmly. And he listened to her carefully, listening to every word. And tears flowed down his cheeks ...

She kissed him tenderly and spent the whole night beside him without closing her eyes.

In the early days, Ruslan could not walk on crutches, it was painful to sit and even lie down or get out of bed, he could not without help. He, then irritated by his helplessness, then wept for gratitude, because he knew that he could not do anything without the help of his beloved woman.

About a week after the operation, one evening, Christina went to the hospital kindergarten. Sitting on a bench under the lime trees, she listened to the muffled noise of the city, coming from behind the white wall. The young woman thought about how wonderful the gift of life is, and how to understand the true price of a gift is possible only when death comes really close. A life! How beautiful she is when two loving hearts beat in unison and when this wonderful picture of life is completed by the presence of a child in it. The young woman stayed in the kindergarten for more than an hour, and only when confidence came to her, was she able to go back to the ward.

As soon as she sat down on the chair next to the bed of Ruslan, he said sadly:

- I do not want to live disabled.

- But you have to live! Must, for me and ... for our child!

- Child ?! - exclaimed the surprised man.

“Yes,” her face lit up with a happy smile. - You will soon become a father.

Despair and joy fought in his soul. Joy won.

- Girl or boy? - He said it gently, passionately. - I want both!

- I do not know, but I am sure that our children will be very similar to us! The young woman answered cheerfully.

“Wait,” his face suddenly became serious. He pulled her close and looked into her eyes. - Honey, but now I will remain disabled for the rest of my life? Who do I need this?

“I need you, our children,” Christine answered tenderly. - We need you, and that's it!

- I? Such?

- Anyone! So it has been since we first met - she ran her hand through his wavy hair and pulled black curls from her forehead. - After all, you want it too?

“When I was not yet a cripple, I really wanted to,” he admitted, looking at her confusedly. - Then I was full of energy.

- And now, my dear? - she asked with bated breath.

- Darling, if you have faith, then it should be with me. We will be together, whatever happens!

From that moment on, Christina was absolutely sure that everything would be fine now. She clung to him, feeling a comfortable safe support under her head and, for a moment, was ready to melt with happiness. After all, her whole life is here now. New life, with all its difficulties and problems. Daughter Nastya, Ruslan, who loves her and wants to marry her, new relatives and friends. She would be good with them, because she loved them so much ...

Meanwhile, Diana, in Moscow, using all her connections, made her way to the reception of the Minister of Defense. They argued about something hot for fifteen minutes and, after that, she came out with a satisfied look from his office.

Two weeks passed. Ruslan could already get out of bed and stand for a few minutes. Every day he left the bed for an increasingly long time, and finally the day came when he was able, with the help of Christina, to go out for a walk around the neighborhood ...

One of the following days, Christina woke up early. This morning promised to be the beginning of a new era. “It is imperative to persuade him to walk around the city,” she mused, taking a shower.

Ruslan also rose early. Unimaginably vigorous, rested and eager to live. Therefore, he easily agreed to a walk in the fresh air.

After breakfast, Timur drove behind them in a car and drove to the pier of the yacht club.

“Let's go over the pier, look at the yachts,” he told his brother gently, helping to change from a car to a wheelchair.

- Do you think it will give me pleasure? - Ruslan asked sadly.

“We'll see,” Timur answered with a cheerful wink.

Christina, with excitement, took hold of the arms of the carriage. They passed the pier pier. A light breeze from the sea played the hem of her skirt, moving white curls on her head. She rolled the carriage with Ruslan in front of her right to the place where their yacht had been moored before.

Approaching the former parking of his beloved yacht, Ruslan sadly saw that the place was already taken by another one, the same white and beautiful one. From the flood of heavy memories, he tightly closed his eyes and felt that Christina had driven him to the very edge of the pier.

“Darling, look, don't be afraid,” she exclaimed tenderly, smiling as if it was the happiest day of her life.

- Open your eyes and take command, captain! - He heard a loud cry of Timur.

Ruslan slowly opened his eyes, looked at the ship and ... wept. Directly in front of him, majestically and gracefully like a white swan, swaying proudly on the calm sea waves, a magnificent snow-white yacht towering with the side sign - "TWO PENSA" ...

(Ending the first volume)

LIZZASTAR