Right Over Each Head

It had taken a month, but Natalia had finally managed something she knew her brother would like. Something that would make him understand how much she cared. It had taken a long time, several pens, and long periods of time with a cramped hand, but she had finally finished it. Each of the three hundred and sixty-five pieces of paper carefully folded into stars and put into the small jar. On each of them written something nice, something comforting. Natalia had taken an entire month on this project.

Now it was complete and she was going to give it to him.

"N-N-Natalia!"

Natalia stopped, glancing over her shoulder at the newest citizen of Hearth. "Hello, Toris," she responded. "Have you seen my brother?"

"No, I h-h-haven't... I'm sorry," he shuffled around a bit. "I c-could help you l-l-look for him."

Two pairs of eyes were better than one. Natalia nodded and Toris fell in stride with her, hands fidgeting with that book he always carried. Natalia thought that Toris was strange and not really the type of person it seemed who would get along with Feliks. Oh well, it was none of her concern.

"What are y-you carrying... Natalia?"

"A present for brother."

He laughed. "You are s-s-so sweet." She looked down at the cloth covering the bundle.

I hope brother thinks so.

Toris stammered on about a few things and Natalia did the polite thing and listened, though she was not really interested. She just wanted to find Ivan. And they did, Toris noticed him and waved him over. Ivan was at first quick, then his pace slowed down as he got closer. Natalia's heart beat faster in her chest. This was it! This was the moment she had been waiting for.

"Vhat are you doing vith Toris?"

"I was just helping her look for you," Toris explained. Natalia held out her bundle.

"This is for you."

"Natalia... I told you, stop giving me presents randomly." Ivan turned his attention to Toris. "She find me easily, you have better zings to do vith time, da?"

Natalia did not understand why her brother was ignoring it. Certainly he had said that, but it had already been done. It had taken her a month! She pushed it forward into his hands. "Take it, brother!"

"I said no!"

"But it's yours!"

"No!"

He dropped it and Natalia heard the muffled sounds of shattering. All she could do was stare at Ivan. It felt like a lifetime before she could look down to see the small stars escaping the folds, the coloured glass painted with sunflowers now littering the ground.

Why?

"Ivan!" Toris exclaimed and in an instant was there, picking things up carefully.

Why?

"Oooh... I'm sorry Nat. I didn't mean to–"

Why?

"Why don't you love me!" Natalia sobbed as she ran away. Nothing she ever did was good enough for him. Nothing she ever did made him want to love her as much as he loved their elder sister, and Natalia had done more to earn it! Everything she did was in hopes that he would finally accept her...

And he did not. He still did not.

Natalia could not seem to run fast enough.


Notes:

She is insane, yes, but that is not her fault. It runs in the family. And the fact that all she really wants is to do something, anything, that will make Ivan say he loves her almost makes Ivan a jerk that he will not. Then again, he is afraid she might want to marry him still. He would probably be surprised to think that was another tactic to make him love her, not her end result. Insanity is interesting. The three in the Braginski family are very insane. From order to least to most insane, I would have to say it is Ivan, Natalia, Katyusha.

And yes, that is the correct order.