still peacefully droh and the girl went to take a shower, washing away the traces and smells of the nightly pleasures. Again, out of habit, removing her hair in a tight tail at the back of her head, Vika promised her reflection that, by all means, today she goes to the hairdresser and first of all dyes her hair to hide her gray hair.

Dumplings, never cleaned up in the fridge in the evening, were indeed a pitiful sight, and Vika sent them to the trash without any regrets. Peering into the fridge, the girl chuckled disappointedly: she promised an omelette, but there were no eggs.

Sitting down on an old stool and keeping the fist between her legs out of habit, Vika thought for a moment. Then a smile lit up her face. She remembered that when yesterday they were going home to Victor, she noticed a grocery store on the way. The girl was not sure that he had already opened, but decided that, if so, she would wait and walk around the city a little. She did not want to sit in the four walls, while Victor was sleeping, her soul was torn to freedom.

Victoria already wanted to wear a sports suit according to the habit, but then her eyes fell on the sports bag, which she left in the hallway. Revealing, she took out a dress from her. Plain, light summer dress with polka dots, with open hands. The dress, which she sewed herself when she was serving a sentence, as well as several dozens of other dresses, sewn to her to her inmates, about to be released. And let the simplest, but still it was a dress - a symbol of femininity. Vika, without thinking, put it on herself and twisted in front of the mirror - it neatly folded up neatly folded. The dress was sitting on it like a molten one, it was not for nothing that they said that Vika’s hands were growing from where it should be. From the same bag, the girl took out a pair of simple light sandals and was about to leave the apartment, when she remembered that she had no cash at all, only a passbook with a small amount of money. In addition to searching for a store, there was also a savings bank, which was certainly closed at this morning time, which complicated the task of Vika, who did not want to leave Victor for a long time and leave Viktor awakened hungry.

She still didn’t know what was waiting for them in the future, whether they would be together (she would have liked to) or everyone would go their own way, but Vika really wanted this morning to be unusual, pleasant and kind for Victor. It was such a kind of payment for his kindness. Good for good.

Victoria's gaze fell on Victor's shabby leather wallet, lying on a bedside table. She took it and opened it, not considering it a bad act, because she wanted to buy products for Victor, moreover, she was going to return this money later. Taking 500 rubles, the girl closed the wallet and put it in its place. Silently closing the door behind her, Victoria went out into the street, breathing in the cool morning air. Like it or not, this was her, one might say, the first morning on the Will. In the city, at large, not in the cramped wagon and even more so, not among the thick prison walls.

Victoria walked along a narrow, deserted street of a provincial town with a flying gait (as she sang in an old song) and smiled at some pleasant thoughts. The first rays of the early May sun fell on her face and she squinted funnyly, meeting them halfway. Near the small old church, the girl stopped and crossed herself three times. Previously, Vika did not believe in God, but in recent years she has changed her attitude towards Faith. Vika promised herself that she would definitely go to the temple during the day and put a candle for her mother, while she hurried to the grocery store. At the crooked gate leading to the church, an old grandmother stood in a worn gray downy shawl and stretched out a thin hand with a plastic cup. Her face was so wrinkled that it seemed as if some of the wrinkles were crushed under the other, earlier ones, but the faded faded eyes were very lively and looked even as if with some enthusiasm.Vika slowed her pace near the old woman and stopped in indecision. She wanted to give her grandmother some money, but she had only one bill, and that secretly borrowed from Viktor for food. It turned out an awkward situation, it seems, the old woman was waiting for some action from her, but Vika could not stop, suddenly leave, without putting anything in the cup. And to explain that she does not have the necessary amount and the only piece of paper needs to be exchanged, Vika was somehow ashamed of herself, finding it completely ridiculous. As if reading the girl’s thoughts, the old woman said:

- Good now the weather! But it's cold here. And you get naked running, daughter! Hot you can see your blood!

“I ...,” began Vika, but the old woman, as if not hearing, continued. - A supermarket somewhere behind that corner, today just fresh eggs were delivered. You, daughter, take the whites, but not the ones that are the largest, but smaller, they will be the most delicious. True, I say to you!

- And where are you from ..., - she was surprised, Vika, but the old woman again did not let her finish her sentence.

- You go, daughter. It's still cold outside. And you need to take care of yourself. But you see, mum is soon to be, and you don't save yourself! Say something, you do not need it. Go too!

- Okay. Good. - Vika was confused and even more surprised by the speech of the old woman, finding her not quite in herself. “But in one thing, grandmother was right, it was really not hot enough outside to walk around in one dress, especially in the early morning.” - I will buy products now, and on the way back I will return.

- Do not, daughter! You have already paid God a very high price. Doubly or even triple overpaid. Now it's God's turn for you to do miracles. Go now!

She didn’t find what to say in response, who was taken aback thoughtfully went in the direction of the store where the old woman pointed.

Taking the products in the store (eggs, the same, white and medium-sized, as the old woman advised, fresh loaf, cheese and sausages) Vika went to the checkout, summing up the cost in her head so that there was enough money.

- Lottery do not want? - Smiling, she asked the chubby saleswoman in a burgundy apron and the same color uniform cap on her head, habitually punching the goods. - “Mig luck”, instant win up to ten million rubles. Here, just take the ticket and take it, otherwise I have no exchange.

Vika suddenly remembered how, on long prison nights, she and the girls dreamed that they would come free one day and one of the obligatory tasks that had to be done first of all was to try their luck in the lottery. And then suddenly, how lucky! She, too, was going to do so, but recent events have dirtied this desire, pushing it into the background.

- And let's! - Vick smiled in response! - What God is not joking!

***

Victor was awakened, as if by shock. A strange thing, in the train after the shift could sleep in any conditions, no matter how hard the train was on the looped railway tracks. And at home, in peace and quiet, usually slept sensitively, waking up several times a night and often falling asleep only in the morning, a few minutes before the alarm. But not at this time. Victor slept soundly through the rest of the night and morning and woke up as if someone had pushed him. Automatically glancing at the wall clock, he noted that already half past eight. Throwing back the blanket and dangling his legs out of bed, he listened. The silence in the apartment was broken only by the loud monotonous ticking of the clock. “Has she gone?” A thought flashed through her head, from which she simultaneously threw both heat and cold. But something was wrong, he rather intuitively sensed that he was not alone in the apartment. Silently leaving the hall, the guy was taken aback for a second. Vika was squatting, with her back to the front door jamb, pressing some package to her chest, and large drops of tears were rolling down her pale face. In the twilight of the hallway, his knees and whites of eyes that were bare from under her dress, were clearly looking at Viktor who had appeared with some sort of mixed, vague feeling.

Throwing off his stupor, Victor found himself in two steps beside the girl, hugging her by the shoulders.

- What. What happened? On you. Persons Not. What. It happened? Vika? - excitedly began to ask Victor with abrupt phrases.

- I ... I ...- several times trying to start Vika, but she was stifled with tears and sobbing ... Read more →