Alina never thought she'd be making out with Aleksander.

Aleksander never thought he would be kissing Alina.

As most things happen, boy meets girl and the rest is history. This story just happens to include many years of friendship, five kids, a divorce, a breakup and a pandemic.

If you asked Aleksander, it all started with the pandemic. If you asked Alina, this thing has been brewing for quite some time.


It starts with a little orphan in Calabasas.

Age: eight.

Parents: dead.

Dreams: crushed.

It starts with a little orphan who has barely made peace with losing her parents and then, suddenly, she's adopted into high society. The names of her new parents? Ana and Konstantin Kuya; names she doesn't need to learn, because everyone knows them already.

Her new father is a real estate developer, known for building luxury hotels and mansions, mainly in the Bel Air neighborhood.

"Quite funny, because we don't actually live there," Ana says when Alina has been living in their mansion for a week. She doesn't know if it's really funny; doesn't understand rich people's sense of humor. All Alina wants is to have her parents back. "Calabasas is way better than Bel Air, don't you ever believe anything else!"

Her new family has so much money and yet, they can't buy her the only thing she wants the most in the world.

Her new mother is on the board of several charities. Ana volunteers for so many projects around the city that during the first year with them Alina is convinced that she's a charity as well. Cannot understand why these two people, who could have anything in the world, chose her; a sickly girl with a mixed heritage, instead of a blonde, real-life Barbie doll with blue eyes and a love for the cameras.

And while it takes a couple of years for Ana and Konstantin to explain why they decided to adopt her, it doesn't take much for Alina to understand that they really love her. Her new parents are eccentric and sometimes borderline ridiculous. They are beyond rich and sometimes they don't have a foot in the real world… Hell, sometimes their parenting strategies seem laughable, but they love her. They hug her and praise her, they feed her and put a roof over her head, they pay for an expensive school and tutors to cater her interests. They do everything in their power to nurture her and support her.

"We'd been trying for a baby for years," Ana tells her, when she's fifteen and comes home crying because a boy from her grade insulted her, calling her horrible names and telling her that no one would ever love a mixed-race scum like her. "The option to do in vitro was always there but Konstantin didn't like it. He didn't want the process taking a toll on my health." Ana survived breast cancer in her early twenties, and Alina knows all about it, often accompanying her mom to many cancer-related events. "So adoption was really the way to go. We didn't want a baby; we were very clear on that. Can you imagine us with a baby?"

They laugh together, the sound echoing around their room. Alina buries her head in her mom's chest and Ana threads her fingers through her hair, pressing a kiss to her head.

"Your mother saw your picture in one of the many brochures we had. And she just felt it, you know? She knew right then and there that you were our girl," Konstantin says, crossing the threshold of her room and sitting in bed next to her, grabbing her hand and kissing her knuckles. "Our little Alinochka, with sunshine in her smile."

She smiles at them both, forgetting all about that awful boy from her school. He has no idea what he's talking about, because she has two people who love her the most, and that is all she needs.


It starts with a little boy in London.

Father: dead.

Mother: overworked.

Sister: doing her best.

Aleksander comes into the world and soon learns it's tough and that you must work hard for what you want. No one will hand him anything on a silver platter and he certainly wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth, so he has to learn quickly that if he wants something, he has to go for it before someone else takes it from him.

He also learns very quickly that music is his favorite thing in the world. At least he has some luck, because he's born to a talented musician that, although exhausted, does her best to teach him all she can about music.

Agrafena 'Baghra' Morozova isa prodigy, and from a young age, devoted herself to classical music. She excelled at it, and soon caught the eye of a young orchestra director who became captivated with her talent. In turn, she became captivated by his charm and the way his heartbeat sounded like the most beautiful lullaby. They married and brought two children into the world.

Two children who wouldn't have many memories of their dad, who died when Aleksander was one and Ursula was four. Once successful and celebrated, Baghra scrambled to raise two kids and maintain the status she had while her husband was alive. Turns out, she had been replaced in every possible aspect, with people not wanting to give a second chance to a Russian immigrant who, on top of that, was a single mother of two.

"It's their loss and we will show them," his mother says every now and then, but Aleksander isn't exactly sure what they will show.

Once he begins to show interest and talent for music, Aleksander understands what his mother meant. He's a prodigy, just like his mother was, just like his deceased father, like his sister. A musical family, all interested in different branches, but prodigies nonetheless.

Aleksander focuses on the drums. He learns to play the piano and guitar, and he can sing and write music, but the drums are everything to him. Nothing can compare to how he feels by playing them, letting it all go and using them as a way to express his emotions, to channel all the anger he feels against the world.

Music is his escape from the life he has to live, but it's also his passion, his job. Aleksander starts working when he's young, trying to help Baghra, and that's when people realize that he's a force to be reckoned with. That although he might be young he's talented—beyond talented.

"We'll show them, mama," he says when he's 17 and invitations to join prestigious music programs come flooding in; when record labels and bands seem to catch on to how genius and how much potential he has.

"I'm proud of you, Sashenka," his mother says when he's 18 and he signs with a record label, a new adventure that will take him away from home and everything he knows. "And your father would be too. Never forget that."

"Never forget where you come from," Ulla says to him when they go to the airport to say goodbye. Aleksander hugs her mother and sister, promising to be good and eat healthy and call.

And then he's off to Los Angeles, to a brave new world.


Alina flourishes under the care of her art tutors, to the point where she becomes a master before she can even legally drink.

Ana and Konstantin open endless doors for her—far too many. At first she doesn't want to take the opportunities that are dropped on her lap. She never expected to be a nepotism baby, but her parents always have someone to introduce her to and places to go and Alina—

Alina realizes that she's the daughter of a Chinese woman and a Russian man, both deceased. No one would look her way if it wasn't for Ana and Konstantin being her parents. Not only that, but she would've never even had the chance to develop her skills, to explore different techniques and simply learn.

So, she takes every opportunity, goes to every event, and meets everyone they introduce her to. Starts networking, learns how to read a room and how to truly connect with the people who can help her advance in her career, because she has one dream and one dream only: to be an artist.

It seems impossible to think that a sickly orphan would ever achieve her dreams of becoming an artist, but she does.

She works hard, day and night, forgets to eat; most times, she doesn't even sleep. Ana and Konstantin have to remind her that there's a world out there, but Alina fundamentally disagrees, because the only world she knows is the one she's creating, the one that exists because she's giving birth to it. The only world that exists is the one that comes from her own hands.

It all pays off when her first exhibition opens, one week away from her twentieth birthday.

Identities, she names it; made up of fifteen compositions, all in different media. The main theme is herself, and how a single person can have multiple identities, how one can also be many, how one navigates life and goes through many facets.

Woman, daughter, friend.

Orphan, artist.

Human.

She signs as KUYA, as a way to honor her parents and also to add yet another identity to her arsenal.

Her parents give speeches on the opening day, praising her and reminding everyone—herself included—that they are proud of her. If the day is sweet because it is the culmination of all her hard work, then it is sweeter because she has her parents with her.

"We couldn't be prouder of our Alinochka," Konstantin tells her when they are about to go back home. Ana presses kiss after kiss on her face, not letting go of their embrace until Alina reminds them that she has an afterparty to attend.

"I love you guys, don't wait up!" She says when they finally let go of her.

An afterparty filled with her friends, both old and new. Filled with people that now look her way because they think she's worth something.

It hardly matters, because when she goes home and she gets in bed, she does it with a big smile on her face.

Her wildest dream came true, and now, Alina knows there's nothing she can't accomplish.


She meets Mal at one of her afterparties when she's 25.

The dream becomes a nightmare.


Blink-182 turns his world upside down. One day Aleksander goes to bed a regular person, and the next he's a famous drummer at the start of his career.

Aleksander left home in hopes of making someone out of himself, and for almost two years he does nothing more than eat, breathe and simply make music.

The day his debut album drops is one of the happiest days of his life. Aleksander can recognize that he, Matthias, and Nikolai have built something worthy of admiration. Not a masterpiece, because he is a perfectionist piece of shit—Nik's words, not his—but something he is incredibly proud of.

They had poured bits of themselves into their album, and Aleksander knows they will produce many more, continuing to make music and create albums even better than this one. But nothing will ever compare to this moment, his first album with two friends that are now family.

Aleksander doesn't think he will ever forget the night their album drops, but what comes next is even bigger than what he could expect.

A North American tour, sold out in minutes.

A European tour.

They go platinum, then gold.

Everyone knows his name; everyone knows where he came from. After all these years, what his mother told him came true: he showed them.

"I am proud of you, my Sashenka," his mother says, a couple of minutes before he's about to get on stage. It's his first time playing in London, his hometown, and he couldn't be more excited. Having his mother and sister in the audience means everything to him. "And you know what? Your father would be so proud too. You must know that, my boy. You were his proudest achievement."

It takes a lot for him not to burst into tears right then and there. Because he thinks about who he used to be and who he is now and realizes…He is proud of himself, of the music he makes, of the friends he made along the way, of the life he gets to live.

Once, he was just a boy, unsure of his future and the present he had to live.

But now? He's a rockstar on top of the world. There's nothing he can't accomplish.


He meets Luda on a music video set when he's 27.

It's love at first sight. Until it isn't.


Mal is the new bodyguard to a reality star that became uber-famous overnight, the same one who just bought a new house from Alina's father.

From the get-go, it's obvious that Mal is not a part of the Calabasas scene, but Alina doesn't care. Most of her friends are quick to turn their backs on him and move on to the next thing, urging her to do the same. They seem to forget that she was new to this world once, but she doesn't let herself forget. So, she smiles at him and offers him her hand.

He's cute, pretending he doesn't know who she is and making conversation with her through the whole night. Mal doesn't always get a night to himself, so they make the best of it. They go from club to club, drinking and dancing until he takes the initiative and takes her to his flat. It's modest, but Alina isn't particularly interested in the decorations.

They are inseparable after that night.

Mal spends all his free time with her, kissing her, touching her, making her happy. Alina is always taking him to different places, bringing him to all the parties and clubs where her presence is required.

She doesn't realize that he always makes excuses to avoid going to galleries or museums. Completely ignores that, other than that first night, they never go to his place. Makes excuses for him with her friends when they point out that she pays for most of their outings.

Mal makes her happy, so why would she give him up? He gives her happiness, and for someone who wanted that for life, she feels lucky. So what if he's lost his job? She has money for both of them. So what if he's getting evicted? She has an enormous house where they can both live comfortably.

Excuse after excuse. She doesn't even realize it, because she's in love. Alina is in love with Mal.

The real question is if Mal is in love with her, and Alina never dares to ask.

She's so in love that she rationalizes that the perfume on his clothes must be hers. The lipstick stain on Mal's neck is one that she gave him. Him being out and spending less and less time together is something common; they are over the honeymoon phase of the relationship; it's completely okay to spend time apart…

Eventually, she gets tired of rationalizing and making excuses. She loves him, yes, but sometimes love is not enough. He pleads and begs, but it is also not enough.

So she lets him go, and once her house belongs to her again, she devotes herself to her art, using her pain to create masterpieces that will sell for millions of dollars.

And yet, her heart aches.


Her name is Luda and she's a model.

She's 20 and absolutely gorgeous. Aleksander has never seen anyone like her. Ever. It's only obvious he asks for her number, for a date—he just has to. The lucky bastard gets it. Not only that, he actually gets her to laugh and open up.

"I wanted to be a nurse," she confesses while they are having ice cream, trying to make the night last forever. He can't even hide his surprise, and she laughs and swats him. "I'm being serious! But then I was scouted and… it was a way out of Russia, you know?"

And what he knows is that she might've helped save a lot of lives, but right now she's saving his.

The life of a rockstar is hectic and chaotic, but with Luda he finds his safe haven. Even if the modeling world is not peaceful, they have each other. They don't need more.

It's a no-brainer to ask her to marry him.

He does it for their first anniversary. She says yes, and before he knows it, they are arranging a small wedding in Los Angeles and a big three day affair in Bordeaux.

She's Luda Morozova and he thinks he couldn't be happier. Two months later, she surprises him with a positive pregnancy test and he realizes that he can be happier.

Iris comes first, and a year later, Vera joins them.

Aleksander thinks he's on top of the world. He has a beautiful, loving wife and two daughters, and he's still making music. What more could he ask for?

He forgets that the fortune wheel never stops turning, and that it doesn't matter if one day he feels like a king, because the next day, he might as well feel like he's at the bottom.

That is exactly what happens.

Luda doesn't adjust well to being a mother, she tries to explain to him. The life she's living is not what she wanted, what she dreamed of. He can't say he understands, because he wanted a family—to settle down. Spends too much time wondering if he made her feel pressured, if wanting too much too soon had doomed them.

"No, Sasha, no," Luda says to him on one of the many nights they spend discussing the subject. "I thought I wanted this, I really did, but…"

Their dreams are not aligned, as simple as that.

When he sees their life, he sees all he ever wanted.

When she sees their life, she doesn't see her dreams being fulfilled.

He has a front row seat to the dissolution of his marriage. Unlike the rest of the world, who rips them to shreds through tabloids and the Internet.

At least it's a friendly divorce, not messy nor catty. Completely cordial. They agree on everything, and to Aleksander it is just ridiculous how their divorce just proves how compatible they are, how well they fit together. Still, there's no turning back.

No spousal support for either of them. Aleksander will remain the primary caregiver for the girls, Luda will have visitation rights, with the idea to split important dates and holidays. The girls are to remain on American soil, so both parents can spend time with them.

He sells the house where they lived together in Malibu, buys one in Calabasas instead. Figures he needs to think of his girls, about school districts and good neighborhoods.

His marriage didn't work, but fatherhood? He'll make it work. He'll be the best father everyone has ever seen.

The only way is forward now.


He buys one of her paintings, hangs it in the living room of his new house in Calabasas.

She buys his records, one after one. Usually the only thing she can listen to while working.


During the time they spend apart, Mal changes.

He's back to the same person he was when they first met. He's charming and witty again, able to make conversation with her, able to listen and make her feel like she's the only girl in the room. Mal no longer drinks or spends time with the friends that led him to a bad road.

She falls in love again, this time even harder than before, because she can see how the future is going to play out. Last time, if she tried to look so far ahead, she couldn't, Mal's behavior clouding the clear vision she has now.

A future for the two of them, filled with happiness and success. Maybe they'll get married—although Mal has never brought up the subject, Alina can't deny that she would like to be his wife. Maybe they'll have kids. Maybe they won't get married or have kids, but they will have each other.

Nothing matters really, because they will be together.

This time, it takes her a little bit longer to realize what is happening. Mal hasn't changed at all, but instead he has become better at hiding his behavior. Sure, he now puts more effort into making her happy, but it's just to keep her distracted. There's a crack in his façade, that's how the truth reveals itself.

In the end, it doesn't even matter if she's caught up to his antics.

Because she's pregnant.

"Shit," she mutters the day she takes a pregnancy test. Mal is out with Mikhael and Dubrov, and she's alone with a baby growing inside her and…

Alina runs home to her mother. She's 28 and she runs back to her mother's arms.

Ana holds her in her arms and consoles her, yes, but she's also practical. Her mother might not always be in sync with reality but when needed Ana is realistic. She's offering option after option when Alina realizes that she wants to have this baby.

Sure, Mal is not perfect and their relationship needs work, but he loves her, she knows that much. And she loves him as well. They will love this baby and they will be a family, a happy one.

The thing is, Alina might be many things, but she still can't bend reality to her will. Because when her son, Feliks, is born, she becomes a mother. But Mal barely even realizes he's a father.


Alina and Aleksander meet at a party, of course. She's 28. He's 33.

They both run in similar circles, and they both live in Calabasas. Their houses are ten minutes away from each other.

It was bound to happen, Alina thinks. He introduces himself, offering his hand as if the entire world didn't know who Aleksander Morozova is.

Maybe if Mal wasn't in the picture she would bat her eyelashes at him and get a date or his cum. But because she's in a relationship she gets neither.

It was bound to happen, Aleksander thinks when she shakes his hand. She says her name, as if her art isn't hanging in his living room.

He thinks she's gorgeous and great company. Enjoys talking to her and making conversation, completely forgetting about the rest of the party.

Aleksander wonders if her boyfriend feels the same when he's with her. Alina wonders if she'll ever feel like this with someone else.


After that initial meeting, they start seeing each other more frequently.

Not friends yet, but something is brewing.


Mal starts to resemble something of a father figure when Feliks turns eight months old.

Alina doesn't know what happened, but she's happy he's bonding with his son. While they still don't live together, Mal spends a considerable amount of time in her house, playing and just simply hanging out with their little Feliks.

It makes her happy that her baby boy is able to have a father. Even if she wasn't able to give him a loving family, he has two parents that love him very much.

With all that's happening, it's easy for Mal to ease his way back into her heart.

She's tired and exhausted. She's full of hormones and overwhelmed with motherhood. Mal has it easy; so easy, it's fucking ridiculous. She can't even fight it because at heart, she knows that this is what she wants: for her son to have a family, for her to have a partner. Someone who will be there, someone who won't vanish, who won't leave.

She can't handle more people leaving.

And yet, she doesn't realize that Mal can't leave if he wasn't there in the first place.


Aleksander is a musician and a father.

After Luda and the divorce, he doesn't want anything to do with dating or women, especially those he isn't related to. Nothing against them, it's just…

Well, he's out of his depth, sort of speaking.

He never saw himself as a single father, as the main caregiver. Not because he has any problems with it, but mostly because he thought he would have someone by his side. A partner to rely on when the days are hard, someone to relax with and celebrate his girls' accomplishments.

But he's alone.

Sure, he has Fedyor and Ivan, who manage his career and are the best uncles to the girls. He also has Genya who is a terrific nanny and with David they do a fantastic job with keeping his house from falling apart. There's also his mother and Ulla, his friends Nik and Matthias; even Nina is there for him.

But…

He pours himself into the music. Blink-182 is a worldwide phenomenon, but he also releases his own projects, which receive critical acclaim. Although, Aleksander would argue that his two biggest critics would prefer it if he sang anything Disney to them.

It's hard, being alone. Until he isn't.


Alina remembers the moment she started to consider him her friend.

Aleksander won't forget where he was the day their friendship began.

They are both very fond of a little indie café, you see.


Aleksander notices her the second he enters the café. It's a regular Saturday morning, and Ulla is visiting, so she's taken the girls for a little road trip. Since only girls were allowed, he stayed home, trying not to lose his mind because he misses his family too much.

He's surprised to see Alina there.

It would be impossible not to notice a beautiful woman in one of his favorite places in the world. Still, he doesn't approach. He might know her, but she seems at ease being alone with her son; the last thing he wants is to disturb her.

He greets the baristas, chatting with them for a second before asking for his regular and taking a seat. He sips his mocha slowly, since he's alone without a single plan in sight. Ulla had the best intentions when taking her nieces so they could spend quality time, but Aleksander is mainly a father, and who is he without his daughters?

He doesn't have time to ponder the question, because the all-familiar buzzing of fans alerts him that his presence has been discovered. While he wouldn't necessarily mind, he's not alone in the café, and he feels a sense of responsibility towards others, especially in these kinds of situations.

"Alina."

He says her name and it feels right, like no other name has felt in his mouth.

"I'm sorry to disturb you and Feliks, but this place is about to get swarmed by fans." He subtly moves his head towards the window. There are more of them now, and he knows it's just a matter of time before things get crazy. "I can help, I'm about to go out. You can stay, of course, but…"

Alina looks from the window to her son, understanding his concern. She nods slowly before opening her mouth. "Thank you, I just don't want…"

"It's no bother. I have my car, I can take you home," he offers, trying not to sound too eager. He really is worried about Alina and Feliks getting caught in the middle of this situation. By the time she nods and gathers her things, he lets out a shaky breath. This is nothing new to him, but he is certain that Alina has never faced a mob of fans wanting to take a peek of him, and Feliks is there too. As a parent, many of his scariest moments have been when he's with the girls and he's worried that something might happen to them.

He's grateful for his fans, but that doesn't mean he doesn't worry. Especially if Alina and Feliks get caught up in the chaos.

They go out the back thinking that there might be less people, since the crowd in the back has grown in size exponentially. They're wrong. There are even more,and everyone goes into a frenzy when they see Aleksander. He isn't particularly surprised, since he expected something like this, and although it makes their plans to escape a little harder, it's not out of the ordinary.

Aleksander puts himself in front of a bunch of fans to ensure no harm comes to Alina and Feliks, puts himself in a scary situation to help someone he is barely beginning to befriend and a child that isn't even his. But he does it because he wants to, because he wants to ensure they are okay. He takes Alina's hand and guides her towards the car, to safety.

When Alina asks him why he protected them, once they are inside his car, he simply shrugs.

"When you have a kid, you have all the kids in the world. I couldn't let anything happen to him, especially not because of me," Aleksander explains, looking at her through the rear view mirror.

She smiles at him, looking very thankful for his actions. Aleksander doesn't really know what is going through her head, but as he looks at the smile she directs at him and then at Feliks, he thinks he'd do anything to help her and more.


The feeling of friendship doesn't cement until she has to change Feliks' diaper and Aleksander stops at his house, since they're closer to it anyway.

His house is a mansion, as big as hers. And just like her house, it doesn't seem like a pretty thing just existing for an AD photoshoot. She can see that this is the place where his family lives, where he's raising his two girls. Alina can see the mess but also the happiness, the memories stored within the walls.

She can also see her art hanging in his living room.

Eclipse, from her first ever exhibition. A piece she loved so much that she decided to replicate it because she was terrified of losing it forever. And yet there it is, in Aleksander's living room.

"I'm a fan," Aleksander explains in a soft voice and yet Alina can't take her eyes away from her art.

Alina quickly realizes that he doesn't say I told you I am a fan. He could've, because he has told her a couple of times now, but he isn't condescending. No, instead he sounds honest and earnest.

They live in a world full of fake realities and yet there he is; almost an oasis in the middle of the sometimes unbelievable world they live in.

"I can give you a tour after you finish changing him," Aleksander offers and Alina shakes her head, despite wanting to nod. He chuckles, but lets her explain herself.

"You've done a lot for us today, Aleksander. You deserve to spend time alone, we would surely disturb you," she says. Her words seem to affect him and he narrows his eyes, showing some annoyance at her words. However, before she can ask what happened, he speaks again.

"My sister took my daughters for a girls' weekend. You'd be doing me a favor."

She can recognize his loneliness because it is the same one that accompanies her.

"Okay," Alina agrees, before pressing a kiss to Feliks' cheek. "Just let me change one stinky diaper."

Aleksander laughs, giving her some space to change her son, only coming back once she's done. He hands her a glass of water and smiles at her.

"Ready?"

He shows her around, explaining that he got the house after his divorce because he wanted a tranquil space to raise his family. It's while they walk around the house that she realizes he has barely talked about himself on other occasions, all their previous conversations basically centering on her. It's nice to hear him speak, to get to know him a little better.

His house is huge, and it's beautifully decorated. But it feels homely, despite the luxury and the constant reminders of his fame. Grammys and platinum records mix with castles and kids' drawings.

The house is a reflection of him, she thinks. Everyone sees him as a rockstar, but he's also a father, and a devoted one from the looks of it. This place was really built to be a home for his daughters, but, Alina also thinks, it was also built to be shared.

It's a huge house, and yes, she knows the rich and famous are prone to such things. Her house is almost as big and it's just her and Feliks, but she bought the house with the idea of building a family, whereas he bought the house after the collapse of one. It makes her wonder if he wants to get back what he lost or maybe find a new family.

"You play piano too?" She asks when they get to his studio and there's a beautiful piano in the middle of it.

Aleksander nods. "Everything you see here, I play."

There are drum sets, of course, but he also has guitars and even a violin. Alina cannot disguise her surprise. He doesn't laugh at her, just smiles and looks around the place before sitting in front of the piano. He nods for her to sit next to it, with Feliks comfortably in her lap when Aleksander starts to play.

She can't recognize the song, but it's a sad melody that fills her ears and haunts her soul. Once again, Alina thinks of how lonely he has been. He seems to be a genuine person, someone who is friendly and kind in an honest way. Aleksander might be a rockstar on top of the world, but at the end of the day, he comes home and is alone, with no one to share his success with.

By the time he finishes playing, neither of them says much. Instead, they just look at each other for a short while. Alina is the first one to smile, and he smiles in return.

Maybe with this friendship, they will have someone to share the loneliness with.


Aleksander guides her around the house, telling her about his girls, about his music. Time seems to fly, and only when Feliks demands food does he realize that he is also starving, so he asks Alina if she wants to eat. They end up ordering from a vegan place she suggests, shyly, almost as if she thinks he will refuse.

He leaves her and Feliks for a second while going to retrieve the order. His dogs, Sankta and Volcra keep them company, happily receiving belly rubs and attention from new people.

While walking, he thinks about Alina and how she carries herself. Aleksander doesn't know much about her relationship, but she lets him know enough. She clearly seems to think of herself as a bother and doesn't seem comfortable voicing her opinions when asked to make a decision. It angers him that someone is causing this in her behavior.

While they haven't hung out a lot, much less in private settings, he knows Alina to be kind and friendly. She's witty and funny, making great conversation. He has nothing but nice things to say about her, because even after having shared a few moments, Aleksander just knows, deep down, that Alina is a wonderful person.

If her boyfriend doesn't seem to realize, then it's his loss. Aleksander doesn't plan on making the same mistake.

They eat out in the back, enjoying a beautiful day in sunny California. He offers to get Feliks so that Alina can have a bite in peace, and the little boy settles into his arms with ease.

"I miss when they were this little," he muses. Feliks is busy inspecting his tattoos, but Alina pays attention to him.

"Your daughters are not that big," Alina jokes and Aleksander knows she's right, but it's not the same. He points that out.

"Iris is six and Vera is four, already in school. Enjoy this moment while it lasts. Unfortunately, they do have a tendency to grow." He takes a sip of his beer after speaking, while Alina looks pensive. "What?"

"Why Iris?" She asks. Aleksander raises his eyebrows in surprise; he was not expecting that question.

He's asked a thousand things a day, and yet, rarely do those questions have to do with him. Although he must admit, he wouldn't necessarily reveal personal information to the press, but to Alina, well… Aleksander can't deny her, she's magnetic.

"Because of my dad. Those were his favorite flowers. He was an orchestra conductor and always received bouquets of blue irises after a presentation. I just wanted to honor him," he explains. Although one has ever asked about that story before, it's fitting that Alina is the first to know.

Because of her answer.

Alina smiles at his words. "Blue irises are my favorite flower as well," she says. "I think your dad was onto something." He laughs and nods, because maybe she's probably right. He just never got a chance to actually meet him.

She's also lost her parents. He knows this because when he tells her that he's a fan, he's not lying. He has read her interviews and the descriptions of her pieces to know that a lot of what she creates comes from experiencing a traumatic event at a young age.

"Yeah, I think he was," Aleksander agrees with a small smile. "Don't you think so, Feliks?"

The little boy doesn't answer, instead, he busies himself with Aleksander's face, exploring it with his tiny hands. Alina tries to apologize for her son's behavior but he won't have it.

There's nothing to apologize for. In fact, he thanks her for her company, for a beautiful day spent together.


It is the beginning of the most important friendship they will ever have.

One that might not change the world, but will certainly change their realities.


They become friends, real friends. The kind that always pick up each other's phone calls and have barbecues together.

It's impossible not to become friends with him.

He understands her in a way that no one else can. Alina knows that she can bare her soul to him and Aleksander will understand because they both are outsiders who stumbled upon the reality they now have to live. He is also the only one who understands what it is to be a single parent and how lonely and isolating it can be.

It's impossible not to become friends with her.

Alina is warm and kind, which are things that he has always felt deprived of. Being friends with her is like finally getting sunshine in his life. She's genuine, a precious diamond for him to cherish and honor. She is the person he goes to for advice and comfort, for support when he needs it, when he wants it.

They become friends, real friends. Even if maybe, they should be more.


"I'm terrified of the girls growing up and becoming brats. I want them to be well-rounded human beings, but sometimes, I wonder if I'm ever doing the right thing," he confesses one night, a couple of days before Christmas.

They are wrapping gifts together in front of his fireplace and two mugs are next to them, full of hot cocoa.

Aleksander can't help being vulnerable with her, because this is what their friendship is like. Raw and emotional, filled with all the support they can give each other.

Alina puts her hand on top of his, looking into his eyes with a smile he reciprocates, because he is unable to resist her.

"You are the best father I know, Sasha. Iris and Vera are lucky to have you," she says, voice strong and unwavering. Alina is a marvel, and more often than not, he feels incredibly grateful to have her in his life. "I won't let you forget it, Sasha."

"I won't let you forget that you're the best mother either, Linka," he echoes, putting his hand on top of hers.

That Christmas, his favorite present is Alina's friendship and constant presence in his life.


They hang out together in public, and everyone has something to say about the photos. Everyone speculates about the nature of their relationship, and everyone has something to say about her—usually racist and horrible things.

She wonders if Aleksander knows. He doesn't read tabloids and barely pays attention to the press. Her friend is famously known for never making statements about his personal life.

Aleksander is all too aware of what people are saying about him and Alina. His blood boils when he reads the racist, vicious, and plainly awful comments people direct at Alina.

He simply won't have it. Calls Fedyor and Ivan and asks them to publish a statement denouncing the awful behavior and asking for respect, not only to Alina, but also to their friendship.

No one has ever defended her, not like Aleksander does. Once again, she's thankful for their friendship, because even if the comments never truly go away, she knows he will always be on her corner.


When they say I love you for the first time, it's an easy, relaxed moment—just like their friendship.

They are having fun with the new paints that Alina brought to his house so they could have a nice activity with their kids. Each of them has a canvas and they are indeed having the time of their lives.

"I love you, Linka," he tells her, looking straight into her eyes. He hopes it's okay to let her know, because the truth is that he hasn't loved anyone for quite some time. It feels right, however, to love her. "Thank you so much for being my friend."

For a second, Alina is stunned, since no one aside from Mal, her parents or Feliks have said those words to her. But she knows he is being honest, since Aleksander is not one for false statements. She also knows that he's being honest because she feels the same way.

"I love you too, Sasha," she tells him, hugging him tightly and making him smile.

It's the first time that they say it to another person, other than their kids, with no strings attached. Their love for each other is for free.


Their friendship is an easy thing. Many people don't get it—what could an artist and a rockstar possibly have in common?

They have similar values and goals. Their backgrounds are also very similar. But beyond that, they operate in the same wavelength. Even if their personalities are not the same, they are both serious, responsible people who are tasked with the immense responsibility of raising kids alone.

They do, however, get along beyond the single parent aspect.

Sasha makes her laugh like no one else. He also asks the right questions and offers his unwavering support, always listening to her and making her feel appreciated.

Linka gets him out of his head when he overthinks too much. She also offers physical affection, always hugging him or lending him a hand, making him feel appreciated.

Their friendship is an easy thing, and they need it, because it's a hard world out there.


"Will you hold my hand?" Alina asks, biting her lower lip in anticipation. Aleksander's warm eyes fall on her face and she tries to smile, but she can't deny she's nervous.

For her 30th birthday, Aleksander gets her the best present ever: a tattoo. He gets a renowned tattoo artist to come to his house where he has arranged everything for her comfort. Alina is beyond herself, not only because of the thoughtful gesture, but also because she really had been wanting to get a tattoo for a very long time and now she was getting it, thanks to him.

"Of course, Linka. Do you even have to ask?" He says, tucking away one errant strand of hair behind her ear.

He offers his hand to her and she takes it without hesitation, holding it through the entire process of getting her son's name on top of her upper arm.

She's so busy focusing on the process that she barely even realizes how right it is to hold his hand. How nice it is to be held by someone instead of having to project strength. How nice it feels to have his calloused hand against her own. How right it feels that their fingers lace perfectly.

She ignores all the signs that life seems to throw her way, focusing on her tattoo instead of the butterflies on her stomach.


She takes pride in motherhood. Raising Feliks and making sure his life is filled with love and happiness is something she enjoys. Her life is not perfect, far from it, but when he snuggles against her, when he calls her mom, when he hugs her tightly… It's worth it.

She begs Mal to go to rehab after his behavior becomes too reckless. She doesn't do it for the sake of their relationship, doesn't even ask because of their son. Alina asks because she's worried about him, because despite everything, she still loves him. Mal deserves to be healthy and to live a good life.

He goes, for her.

For a time, everything is well with them.

Their son Andy is born a year after Mal goes to rehab.

Happiness lasts longer this time.

When it ends, Alina wonders if she's worthy of love.


Aleksander's life is composed of music and fatherhood. That is what matters to him: that Iris and Vera are happy and that he's able to make music. His life is less lonely than it was, now that Matthias and Nina have kids so his daughters have friends their age. Ivan and Fedyor are nothing if not doting uncles, and even his mother and sister make sure to visit at least a couple of times a year.

He dates, or tries to, at least. Pretends to make an effort, for the sake of… well, he doesn't know. It seems like people are more invested in his love life than himself. At the end of the day he is a rockstar and sex is always available.

Even if he feels a little cheap afterwards.

He is a romantic at heart, craving connection.

Sometimes he lies awake at night, wondering if he'll fall in love again.

He lies awake at night and wonders if this is it.

If this is all his life will be.


Alina finds a ring in Mal's closet.

She spends their next date explaining that she doesn't believe in marriage.

Thankfully, he gets the memo.


Aleksander finds the ring he gave Luda in between his things.

Had completely forgotten about it, completely forgotten about his own.

Good thing, since he doesn't believe in marriage anymore.


Alina confesses that she's never done weed one night, and Aleksander just won't have it.

"Sasha, it's not a big deal, honestly," she says when he grabs his phone to text his provider.

"Linka, you're over 30, a world-renowned artist, and a mother of two. If anyone needs to try pot, it's you," he says, and although it's not his best argument, Alina doesn't fight him. What's the worst that could happen? Her sons are with her parents for the weekend and Aleksander's daughters are at a sleepover.

She's an adult, and it's legal now. So, she nods and watches as Aleksander rolls them each a joint. As she watches his expert fingers work, she finds herself unable to look away.

Sasha has really nice hands. His fingers are long and graceful, hypnotic, because whenever he's playing, she can't look away. Completely devoid of ink, except for the names of his daughters across his knuckles; Alina knows that those hands are capable of doing the work, of holding her when she desperately needs it, of lifting her kids whenever they want to play Superman. Hands full of calluses, but soft nonetheless.

His hands could lift the world, that much she knows.

"Linka? All good?" He asks, bringing her back to reality. The joints are done and he has a puzzled look on his face. "We don't have to do this, you know."

"It's okay, Sasha. I trust you."

The understatement of the century, of course.

They eat a lot while high and they also sneak into her study, trying to make ceramics. When that doesn't go as planned, they try to mimic Pollock in one of her canvases.

It's a fun night, like it usually is with Sasha. What's unusual is the morning.

Alina wakes up first, rubs her eyes before taking in her surroundings. The first thing she registers is that she's not in her bed; she's in her living room. Or it was her living room, which now looks like a mess, even worse than it normally looks because of her boys.

The other thing she registers? Aleksander is next to her, his arms thrown around her torso, keeping her close. She smiles, taking a second to look at him because it's so strange to see him so… relaxed. Alina knows that their friendship is a safe place for both of them and that he's as honest and genuine as he can be with her, but she also knows that he carries so much that it's strange to watch him without a worry.

She kisses the beauty mark under his eye, traces his patchy beard with a finger, and doesn't, for one second, think about how nice it must be to kiss him.

Instead, she buries her head in his chest and goes back to sleep, accompanied by his heartbeat.


Her relationship with Mal is a rollercoaster.

She entered it excitedly, filled with hope and a sense of adventure, feeling ready for whatever it threw at her.

Now, she can't seem to get off it, keeps riding it despite knowing the twists and turns, despite knowing it isn't for her.

Alina is simply unable to get off.


He enters a new relationship, after years of being single.

Lizabeta is perfectly fine. She's pretty, college-educated, and good company.

The relationship is okay, but even he can admit it's a perfectly safe one.

He stays in the relationship for around a year, breaks it off because Lizabeta deserves to be with someone who loves her.


"Do you think there's life after death?" Alina asks, out of the blue. Aleksander almost chokes on the other side of the line.

He's in Europe because Ulla's new opera is premiering and he never misses any of his sister's opening nights. Even the girls came with him; his mother is giving them a tour of the backstage area, enjoying being a babushka and showing off her daughter.

He retired outside to take Alina's call, thinking that it was urgent and not philosophical.

"Christ, Alina," he mutters, but when she doesn't giggle, he figures it must be serious. "Well, I never thought much of it, if I'm honest. It's a nice sentiment for sure, but if I'm completely honest, I'm not sure it's real."

Alina remains quiet on her side of the line, and even though he can't see her, Aleksander can picture her across the ocean, brows furrowed and face in total concentration. He likes looking at her while she works, and he just knows she must look like that right now.

"It's their anniversary. I mean, in a couple of weeks, you know, and I've been thinking…" The line goes silent, but he doesn't push her. Instead, he lets her take her time. It's never easy for her to talk about her parents, about Ling and Andrei Starkov, long dead but never forgotten. "I don't know if there's life after death, Sasha. I wish I knew what happened to them, it would give me a sense of relief to know they are okay."

"They are together, Linka. Of course they are okay," he tells her. Not sweet lies, but what he thinks is the silver lining in all of this. "I might not know what is beyond this realm, but I know your parents are together and that's the most important part."

Unlike his dad, who is alone. Aleksander doesn't say that, because he is there to make Alina feel better.

"If something happens, would you wait for me, Sasha?" She asks, voice incredibly small. Although he's proud of his sister and really wants to celebrate tonight, he wishes he could be with Alina, wrapping his arms around her and keeping her safe.

"Of course, Linka. Of course I would wait for you," he answers, knowing that he means it. Alina hates to be in new places alone, so if something would happen to him, he would wait for her just so they could keep each other company in the afterlife.

"I just don't want to be alone, Sasha. They had each other but I have no one," she confesses.

Aleksander thinks it would've been less painful if someone took his heart out of his chest and threw it on the pavement.

"You have me, Linka. You'll always have me," he promises, making the mental plan of maybe catching an earlier flight to be with her sooner and comfort her. Lord knows Mal won't be there, and her sons are too young to comfort her.

"Do you promise, Sasha?" she sobs. Aleksander closes his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. There's nothing he hates more than hearing Alina in pain, not when he could be there for her.

"I promise you, my Linka. I won't ever leave you alone."

A promise he intends to keep and never break.


Andrei Starkov was a man who recited Heraclitus: No man ever steps in the same river twice. For it's not the same river and he's not the same man.

Alina thinks about that one night when Mal slides under the covers at night and she lets him.

In a month she will turn 33, and she still wonders why the river is the same, despite the passage of time.

The next morning, after she wakes up to Mal's snoring despite their kids' cries for attention, she realizes that Greek philosophers didn't know shit about toxic relationships.


"You think love is real?" Alina asks one summer night. Their kids are all passed out from their day in the pool, pizza and s'mores. Only the two of them remain.

Well, three, he corrects himself after Alina grabs his hand and puts it on her belly, to show him where the baby is kicking. Aleksander smiles, because he knows she's happy about having a girl. He just wishes Mal was a better partner and father, Alina deserves nothing less.

Her question is a painful one, precisely because of their situations. Aleksander can understand where it comes from, he just wishes she didn't have to ask it.

His face must show what he's thinking because Alina speaks again. "I mean, I know it's real. Feliks and Andy love me, same with my parents and…"

"And me, Alina, and me," he says, with a serious face in place. She smiles at him, leaning to kiss him on the cheek.

"You and the girls, Sasha, I know." She sighs, rubbing her belly absentmindedly. "I mean romantic love. I just think… when I was younger I used to think it was real, but then my parents died and I realized that life is hard and real love is… I don't know, Sasha. I wish I could say I knew."

She doesn't look at him while she speaks, and Aleksander's heart breaks for her. He personally gave up on love a long time ago, which hurt because he is a romantic at heart. As much of a romantic he is, he's also a realist, and while being a public figure is both attractive and not, he also has two girls and no interest in having more kids. Having a partner or someone to share his life with is not something he's looking forward to anymore. He just wants to be a good dad.

Alina, though… She deserves the world, someone solid, someone who will not break her heart but dismiss her fears.

"I think that if it's real, no one deserves it more than you," he ends up saying. Alina beams at him before resting her head on his shoulder. He presses a kiss to her forehead, wrapping an arm around her to keep her close.

For a moment, they remain silent, just the sound of the crickets and the fire in front of them. He completely forgets about the world until Alina speaks again.

"No one deserves love more than you, Sasha."


Aleksander is the first one to visit her after Lily is born; brings a bouquet of blue irises for her on one hand and take out from her favorite vegan place on the other.

"God, have I told you that I love you?" She jokes when he presses a kiss to her forehead.

"You say that every time I bring you food," he says, smiling at her before focusing on her daughter, resting in her arms. "Oh Linka, she's beautiful." His finger softly caresses Lily's cheek and something unknown settles in her stomach.

"I named her Lily, in honor of my mom," Alina explains, capturing Aleksander's attention once again. "I have Andy, and now…"

"They would've been so proud of you, Alina. The proudest," he whispers before his hand caresses her cheek, wiping away some tears that fall from her eyes. "And they would've loved your children. I have no doubt about that."

She smiles at him, at his words, at the calming effect he seems to have on her. Sasha always knows the right thing to say to her and she's beyond thankful.

"Do you want to hold her?" She asks, voice faint. Aleksander nods in response and she can see how his eyes twinkle with joy when she hands him the baby.

He's a natural; there's no need for her to tell him how to hold her daughter. Aleksander has two of his own; he knows what to do and how to do it. Alina watches him coo after her daughter, her eyes never leaving them as he urges her to eat while he busies himself with Lily.

It feels natural, almost meant to be, that Aleksander is the fourth person to hold her daughter, only after her and her parents. Mal hasn't even stopped by the hospital and yet Sasha is there, feeding her and caring for her and her daughter. Sasha is a constant in her life, and today is just more proof of that.

As she eats, something sets in her stomach, but instead of inspecting the feeling, she just ignores it for the most part. She's full of hormones and exhausted after laboring and giving birth. The last thing she needs is to think of how her stomach swirls with desire at the image of Aleksander holding her daughter with reverence.


Iris and Vera dote on little Lily.

The first time Aleksander brings his daughters to Alina's home to meet the new baby,they already feel comfortable around her, asking Alina all sorts of questions and fighting over who gets to hold her first.

Aleksander watches as Alina instructs the girls on how to hold her correctly, with Iris going first and Vera second. They both coo over Lily and ask Alina to tell the story of her birth for the hundredth time.

"Well, I was about to have a bath when…"

The noise travels to the kitchen, where he is keeping the boys entertained with some vegan cookies to present to Alina. He has been bringing or sending food and things she might find useful, because she's a mother of three with virtually no partner and very little assistance. She has Marie, her nanny, but still, Aleksander is a worrier and he worries about his friend.

"Sasha, Sasha, I want to put the nuts in the mix!" Feliks tugs on his sleeve. Andy, on the other hand, just lets out a wail that indicates he also wants in on the fun.

"I think we agreed that we would all put in the nuts, right? Mama wouldn't want you to fight," Aleksander comments, capturing the attention of both boys who nod solemnly.

They absolutely adore Alina, and there's nothing they wouldn't do for their mother, which is something they have in common with Aleksander. There's nothing he wouldn't do for Alina or for her kids, whom he loves as much as he loves his girls.

He picks them up from the floor and sets them on the counter so they can finish the recipe, with Feliks being gentle and showing his little brother how to mix and what nuts their mama loves.

"The cookies have to be perfect, Andy. Mama just gave us a sister, so everything needs to be perfect," Feliks says, as serious as a five-year-old can sound, when they put the tray in the oven.

"Perfect," Andy echoes before they high five Sasha, who congratulates them on a job well done.

After that, they join the girls in the living room, with Aleksander sitting next to Alina and the kids climbing all over his lap so they can take a look at the sleeping baby. He wraps his arm around Alina, to keep her close and pet her hair. To provide some sense of comfort.

Neither realize that from the outside, they look like a family already.


Her kids don't know what it is to have a loving, stable home.

It weighs on her.


She breaks up with Mal when she's 34, almost a decade after she met him.

By now, she's used to his cheating and drunken antics, but that's not what makes her pull the plug on a relationship that has been dead for longer than it has been alive. Alina tolerates the lipstick stains and that her private life is made public because of him. She tolerates his endless drinking and alcohol problems. She tolerates his disrespect because she wants her kids to have a relationship with him.

But her kids are the reason why she breaks up with him.

One night, he comes home, drunk and drugged out of his mind—his usual. What is not usual is that Lily is teething and Alina needs some quiet around the house because she just got her daughter to sleep after an incredibly exhausting day.

It sits badly with Mal, who yells at her that this is his house and he can be as loud as he wants. Alina tries to reason with him, not even explaining that it's her house. She just wants some peace and quiet because she's completely drained.

All Alina is looking for is some sympathy.

All Alina gets is a punch next to her face.

He doesn't hit her—technically. However, she knows that fist was meant for her.

Alina has tolerated many things, more than many people would. She did it because of her kids, because she wanted them to have a father. The decision of breaking up with Mal comes from the same place. She loves her kids, more than anything.

She won't raise them in a violent environment, period.

Alina loves her kids so much that she kicks him out, breaking up with him on the spot. She loves Feliks, Andy, and Lily so much that she drags Mal's ass to court and wins full custody of her kids.

Hers. Only hers. Mal might've done his part, but he might as well be a sperm donor. Maybe worse, because sperm donors don't put mothers through hell and back.

Anyways, her kids are only hers. He gets visiting rights only after going to rehab and staying sober. Only after a judge deems it suitable for him to be in the same room as the kids.

She leaves court with a smile on her face and hope in her eyes.

The nightmare is over; she can live again.


Aleksander worries that his daughters don't have a mother figure in their lives.

It weighs on him.


One day, Aleksander wakes up and realizes that he's the father of two girls who will become women. Iris is already 13 and Vera is 11 and all they have is him.

Their three-person family unit is all they have ever had, with the additions of Ulla and his mother and even Alina and her kids from time to time. Hell, even Luda fits right in with her visits and her role as a fun aunt. But yes, at the end of the day, it's just him and the girls.

He's the one in charge of giving all the talks about sexuality and menstruation. He's the one who will accompany them as they navigate their teen years. He will witness the changes they will go through as they experience puberty.

Even if Aleksander is scared about fucking up, he's happy that he gets to be there for them. At the end of the day, that is what he wanted: to have a family and be present. To be able to love his girls and to get love in return.

They still love him, but they no longer think he's the best. His fame used to fascinate them; now, they think he's not cool and act embarrassed when their friends fawn over him.

They still love him, but they want space. They don't allow as many hugs and kisses in public as they used to. Their I love you's uttered only in private.

He takes it all in stride, understanding that it's part of the process. They are bound to grow up and open up their wings and move on to better things. He just wishes that they would remain his little girls for a little longer.

He counts his blessings, like waking up in the mornings to have breakfast together. To be able to take them to school and hear all about their adventures at dinner. To snuggle with them when there's a rainstorm and he has to protect them from the thunder.

Aleksander gets to be the father of two wonderful girls, and nothing will ever top that.

Once upon a time, he fell in love at first sight, but he came to learn that was not love, maybe infatuation, probably lust.

This, Iris and Vera and their lives: this is love, real love.


Even after years of friendship, people speculate and whisper over the nature of their relationship.

Now that they are both single, fans and critics feel emboldened and start to make accusations.

Neither Alina nor Aleksander pay them attention.

However, people in their inner circles start to comment on how well-suited they are for each other. It would be so simple, they say, to simply start dating.

They are already friends, they know each other so well and their kids get along.

Why don't they date?


"Ugh, I suck at this!" Alina complains, raising her arms in frustration and dramatically dropping her head on top of the piano. Aleksander laughs at his friend's antics and rubs her back silently. "Seriously, why do I put myself through this?"

"You said you wanted a new hobby," Aleksander comments absentmindedly.

"You know me well enough to not listen to me, Sasha," she mopes, before raising her head from the piano. He barks a laugh, because, if anything, all he does is listen to her. Everyone else fails to pay attention to her words, but Aleksander prides himself in actually listening to what she has to say.

"I love listening to you," he argues, making her roll her eyes.

"Yeah? You love listening to my shitty skills?"

The corner of his mouth quirks up. Alina really is something else. "You're learning, Linka. You can't expect to be a master after a month of lessons. Your impatience will get the better of you."

Alina raises her eyebrows before answering. "Speaking of impatience…"

He fears for the worst. "Jesus, what did you do?" Sometimes he's convinced she will give him gray hairs before his daughters.

"Nothing bad, Sasha. Stop jumping to conclusions, old man," she teases and normally he would crack a smile but he doesn't, he wants to listen to what she has to say. Luckily, Alina relents. "Really it's nothing bad. I'm just going on a date."

He's surprised by the comment, especially since she has been reluctant to date again after Mal.

"Are you sure?" he doesn't want to doubt her decision, he just wants to confirm she's okay by doing this.

Alina smiles at him and kisses his cheek before answering. "Yes! Marie set me up with her friend Alexei and I'm quite excited. We've been texting and he seems really nice. We're going to a new vegan place." After that sentence, Alina remains quiet, but Aleksander knows her well enough to know that there's something on her mind, so he patiently waits until she's ready to speak again. "I'm happy Sasha. I feel like I wasted so much time with Mal—almost a decade! I'm happy about this. I just want to have fun and maybe fall in love."

That is all he needs to know. If she's happy then he's happy.


She dates Alexei for a little over a year. He's perfectly fine, a gentleman, which is something she isn't used to when it comes to boyfriends.

Still, Alina can recognize that the relationship is boring and lacks passion. If anything, it seems more like a comfortable friendship.

They agree to break up and remain friends, which is something she appreciates.

Although, once again, she wonders if love is real and if she deserves it.


"She reminds me of your father," Baghra tells him the morning after he turns 43.

Baghra and Ulla are here to celebrate with him. A huge milestone, one his own father didn't get to see.

"Who?" Aleksander asks, raising his eyes from his coffee and looking at his mother. She's not looking at him, but at Alina, chatting happily with Ulla as they make breakfast.

He instantly smiles, almost impossible not to do whenever he looks at Alina. Almost as if she can sense him, she raises her eyes from the ingredients and locks eyes with him, smiling and waving in his direction.

The moment doesn't go unnoticed by Baghra, who smiles knowingly. "Your father had light inside of him. I see the same one in Alina," she says after a moment passes.

Aleksander nods when he hears her mother's words, because he can see that light in her as well.

What he cannot see is how life seems to be pushing him in one direction only.


The line goes: Love is friendship set on fire.

The thing is, Alina and Aleksander's friendship has been in flames since the very beginning.

They have been dancing in the fire for so long they can't even see it. Even if everyone else can witness the smoke, they remain oblivious to what is in front of them.