2. SICK
Sasha was surprised but very happy when Aleksey returned the next night. They went through the ritual of her serving him his two shots of vodka and then they would move their business upstairs. Sasha was more than pleased when Aleksey returned over and over and over again. Their pattern continued for two months, and every night he would come to her and make her feel like the beautiful woman that she was.
The walls around Sasha's heart were crumbling. Aleksey was a kind and loving man. He was very giving and even in the hard times that everyone else was facing he seemed to have a never ending supply of money. The other girls in the brothel were jealous that Sasha had snagged such a loyal customer.
One morning, after Aleksey had left their room, Sasha was feeling nauseous and was throwing up in a bucket. She had actually been feeling this way all week but didn't want anyone to know that she was sick. Otherwise they might not allow her to work, fearing that she was infectious, and that would mean that she couldn't see Aleksey and he might find another girl. She just couldn't let that happen. But then her door flew open and Lena, one of the other girls, came in.
"I thought I heard someone sick in here," Lena said with a disgusted face.
"Get out, Lena. Leave me alone," Sasha said raggedly.
"I knew this was bound to happen sometime," Lena said, ignoring her.
Sasha was confused. "You knew what would happen?"
Lena laughed, "That you would get pregnant! He's been coming to see you every night for the past couple of months, what did you think would happen?"
This couldn't be right. Sasha had been doing this her whole life and she had never gotten pregnant. She was convinced that she was barren. "I'm not pregnant," she said. "I'm just sick."
Lena laughed scornfully. "When was the last time you bled?"
Sasha considered this. She had missed her periods before but that was common in times of famine when her body wasn't receiving the nourishment it needed to function properly. "I miss my period all the time, we all do."
Lena said "We do, but you shouldn't be considering that you've had a customer paying for you regularly. You've got the money to buy food, there's no reason for you to miss your period other than the fact that you're pregnant."
Sasha's heart sank as she realized Lena was right. How could Sasha raise a child in this place? There was no way to provide for a baby when Sasha could barely take care of herself. And what if it was a girl? She couldn't allow her daughter to grow up the same way she had. She wouldn't allow it.
Lena interrupted her depressing thoughts. "Well you sure are lucky."
Had she heard her right? "Lucky! How can this be lucky?"
"Well it's obvious that Aleksey is crazy about you! He's spending a fortune on keeping you all to himself every night. With all that money he's gotta have some kind of reputation. He's not gonna wanna have people saying he's got a bastard. So when you tell him that you're pregnant with his kid then he's gonna wanna marry you." Lena was proud of herself for solving Sasha's problems.
"You really think so?" Sasha asked in wonder.
"Of course! Looks like you'll get the fairytale ending." Lena smiled and left the room.
Sasha allowed herself to imagine it, Aleksey making her his wife. He had never told her that he loved her but maybe he did, maybe he was letting his actions speak. She imagined living in a big house with him with children running around. It was a beautiful image in her mind. She would tell him tonight when he came to see her again.
Like clockwork, he came in the evening and sat down at the counter while she poured him his two shots of vodka. She was nervous.
"Is everything alright?" Aleksey asked her.
She smiled at him. "Everything is perfect."
They went upstairs and made love once again. Sasha was so impressed that Aleksey never seemed to tire of her. As they lay there in bed with her wrapped in his arms she decided it was the right time to tell him.
"Aleksey, there is something you need to know about me."
He gasped. "Don't tell me you're not really a butcher."
She laughed at him and he squeezed her tighter into his arms. Then she continued. "I've been sick lately, in the mornings. And I haven't had my period for a while. Lena thinks I'm pregnant."
Aleksey seemed to stiffen. He pulled his arms back and propped himself up on his side. "Are you serious?"
"Do you really think that this is something I would joke about?" she asked.
Aleksey seemed deep in thought for a moment and then got out of the bed and started to get dressed.
Sasha was a little confused by his reaction. "Aren't you going to say anything?"
Aleksey looked at her, "What should I say?"
Sasha felt uncomfortable as all the kindness went missing from his eyes. "I don't know… I guess I thought you might want to help."
Aleksey was surprised. "Why would I want to do that?"
Sasha was beginning to regret letting the walls down around her heart. "Because it's your baby."
Aleksey barked a cruel laugh. "No, it isn't."
Sasha could feel the pain in her heart. "You've come to see me every night. I haven't been with anyone else."
"Look Sasha, I don't know what you do during the day when I'm not around. Who's to say you haven't been putting in a few extra hours-"
"But I haven't! I'm telling you, you're the only one I've been with in a long time." Sasha could feel the tears welling up, burning her eyes.
Aleksey took her face in his hand and said very slowly and firmly. "It's been fun. You're great at what you do. But that is not my baby." He let her face go and walked out the door.
