• It was midnight; most was silent except for the blizzard outside. Her, her older brother, Ivan, her elder sister, Katja, and their friend, Toris, were all locked in, and this had made her uneasy. It was very clandestine, but, she was in love with Toris. He was always so-how did she want to put it-exemplary, although, with that very person in the house, it made it hard to sleep.

    In the next room over, she could hear Ivan and Toris talking.

    “I’m sorry that you have to share your room with me,” Toris’ voice came.

    “It’s alright,” Ivan replied. “I used to share it all the time with Natalya and Kat.”

    “Aw, that’s really cute, Ivan!”

    “Shut up!” Natalya laughed at Ivan. Not too long ago, they had been penurious; almost to the point where her and her siblings were almost mendicants. Natalya, Katja, and Ivan all used to share a room, and their parents both worked two jobs; just to make ends meet. They had lived in a rough neighborhood. Now, they lived in a fairly big house, and both parents worked nights at the hospital.

    Natalya couldn’t take it anymore. She sat up in her bed and slipped out of it, quietly. She slipped her way out of the room without any sounds, making her way down the stairs. It was dark, and her step was staggered, and very off balance; she had almost tripped a couple of times. It’s not like she was afraid of getting hurt; she had been hurt a lot as a child.

    She was rather raucous at a young age. Whenever the neighborhood bullies had vituperated Katja, she was always the one to stand up to them. It often resulted in minor cuts and bruises, as well as gashes through her legs and face. Plenty of scars stained her skin now.

    After her parents both got jobs at the hospital, they moved into a better neighborhood, transferred into a better school, and had met better people. One of which was, of course, Toris, whom was one of the first people that they had met. Natalya had met him in her literature class. He had written a poem for the class, and, although the words were obsolete, they were very profound, and beautiful.

    She didn’t feel the stairs as she tripped and started to fall. Her life flashed before her eyes; the bad neighborhood, the beatings by the neighborhood kids, meeting Toris, moving into the new house, and everything else. She grabbed desperately for the railing, but it was out of her reach. She squeezed her eyes shut.

    “Natalya! Are you alright?” She opened her eyes slowly, feeling a strong grip on her wrist. There, she saw Toris; one hand was around her wrist, and his other hand was gripping the railing. She scrutinized him the best she could in the dark; which were wide with concern and his hair was slightly disheveled

    Natalya stayed silent, too shaken to make a sound.

    “Natalya!” He said in a loud whisper.

    Natalya nodded, hoping that he could see her better than she could see him.
    A small chuckle escaped him. “You gave me quite a scare, little one.” He pulled her to her feet, slowly letting go of her wrist. “What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?”

    She blushed, turning around and making her way down the stairs, keeping her hand on the railing at all times. “Come now, Toris,” she said. “Even if a cat did have my tongue, there’s no way to insinuate that one cannot speak without it.”

    Toris followed close behind. “It’s just a figure of speech.”

    “Why are you up, anyway?” She asked, turning to the kitchen.

    “I couldn’t sleep, and, lo and behold, I saw you falling down the stairs.”

    “Well, thank you for saving me,” she grabbed two glasses from the cabinet, handing Toris one of them. “Perhaps some milk will help with your sleeping problem?”

    He took the glass, nodding in thanks and walking towards the refrigerator. “Natalya…” he hesitated before asking. “Do your scars still hurt at times?”

    She paused, biting her lower lip. “Why do you ask?”

    He shrugged. “I’m just curious. I mean, Ivan told me about the neighborhood you lived in before you came here, and how you would always pick fights with the neighborhood kids-.”

    “Did he, by any chance, tell you that I was protecting my older sister?”

    “No, he didn’t, but, he did tell me the story behind that scar on your cheek. I must say, never have I ever heard of such fidelity for one’s family!” He poured himself a glass of milk, and then he passed it to Natalya.

    “It was nothing special,” she poured some milk into her glass. “The boys were threatening Kat with a knife, and, like the idiot I am, I put myself in her place.”

    “That was very brave of you. Normally it’s the other way around.”

    “I was always the braver one out of us two.”

    “Well, it was still nice of you.”

    She put her hair from behind her ear, hiding the scar. “Why are you so interested in it?”

    He put a hand on her shoulder. He felt her stiffen up, and smiled. “Like I said, I’m only curious.” He chuckled.

    “Curiosity killed the cat, you know?” She took a sip of her milk and instantly felt sleepy. She sat down at the table. “It’s only a scar.”

    Toris laughed. “A scar from protecting someone you love is a prized possession, Natalya.” He sat down across from her. “You, of all people, should know that.”

    “Toris…” her eyelids were becoming heavy. “Just drop it.” She succumbed to the tired state she had been put in and finished her milk. “Good night.” She put her glass in the sink and walked out of the room. She was careful going up the stairs and walked into her room, passing out onto her bed.
    ----
    The next morning, the blizzard had passed, and the sun shined straight through the window. Natalya sat up and stretched, and noticed an envelope on her nightstand. She leaned towards it and picked it up. In it was a missive, and, the words written on the piece of paper were words that she would relish forever:

    “It was midnight; most was silent, except for a blizzard outside. You, your older brother, your elder sister, and a friend were locked in, and this had made me uneasy. It was very clandestine, but, I’m in love with you. You are always so-how do I want to put it-exemplary, although, with you in the next room over, it made it hard to sleep. So, I shall say this now; I love you, Natalya Arlovskaya, and, last night was wonderful, and I enjoyed talking to you.
    “PS: Your scars make you look beautiful.”