I haven't received a new chapter from my coauthor, but it's been more than a week since I've updated, so here you go :)
Disclaimer : I do not own VA or any of the recognizable characters
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Enjoy!
DPOV ( Written by Bethismyname )
I sighed as I looked over my family's home, it was the same furniture, same photos lining the walls, same smells wafting through the house, but it was different.
After I joined the army and was sent oversea, my family moved to America. I had never actually set foot in the house before today, and had only seen it from a photo they'd once sent me. I reached into my back pocket and pulled it out of my wallet. It was all of them; Mama, Sonya, Vika, Karoline, Paul and a little baby Zoya. They were all smiling happily at the camera, proud of their new home.
I placed it carefully back in my wallet, and walked down the hall toward the kitchen where I could hear everyone chattering excitedly.
They all turned to me as I stepped under the low doorframe and it was silent as everyone took me in, still unused to knowing I'm home and safe.
"UNCLE DIMKAAAA!" Paul threw himself into my arms, and I caught him with ease, laughing at his excitement. The chatter came back, as everyone went back to their business.
"It's nice to have you back." Sonya said, wrapping an arm around my back and pulling me in for a side-hug. I set Paul down on the floor, much to his disappointment, and wrapped my arms around my older sister.
"I've missed all of you so much." I whispered, for what felt like the millionth time today.
A little while later, everyone has gone upstairs to sleep, and it was just Karolina, Sonya and I sitting around the kitchen table.
"I need to get a job." I thought aloud, "I only have so much in savings, and the government can only pay me for so long. Other people need their money more than I do."
"Then go for it." Sonya agreed.
"That's the problem. What job can I get? I graduated high school, but have no further qualifications to speak of. No one will want me to work for them."
"Dimka, you could have just asked me!" Karo scolded me, "You know I could help."
She was right, she could help me. Karo worked in a job placement agency and could easily get me in with managers and CEO's, but I didn't want to appear weak in front of my family. I was meant to protect them. Not the other way around.
"And I know what you're thinking, but you need help. It's okay to ask for it every once in a while." She said, giving me a 'no nonsense' look.
"All right, I'll come into the office soon." I promised her.
Two weeks later
It's strange for me to be so worked up over something like a letter, but I'd sent one to Rose two weeks ago, and I hadn't had a reply. I considered sending another one, but decided against it. She probably had a good reason. She was just starting a new career, needed to adjust to it and just hadn't found the time to reply.
As promised, I was driving to Karo's work to attempt at finding a job. I pulled up outside and walked into the bright, open lobby.
"Hello, this is Jobs-For-You, how can I help you?" a chirpy blonde said into the phone. "Mmmhmm… Yes, yes… I understand. You would need to book an appointment with one of the supervisors. What time would best suit you? Okay! She'll see you tomorrow, 10am sharp!" she put the phone down, scribbled a note down the turned to me, a smile etched across her face. "Hello, how can I help you?"
"I'm here to see Karolina Belikova." I replied.
"Do you have an appointment?" she asked, rifling through an appointment book.
"No, but I'm her brother."
"That's you?" The girl asked, a real smile lighting up on her face, "She told me all about you! Just go on up, Third floor, the second room on the right."
I thanked her and followed her directions, eventually arriving outside a clouded glass door with Karo's name on it in neat, black print. I knocked.
"Come in!" I entered to see a flustered Karo sitting behind a large stack of papers. "Dimka! You should have told me you were coming!" she said, getting up to give me a hug. "I didn't think you'd really end up coming here." She mused.
"Well, I am." I said with a smile, "So let's get job hunting."
"Dimka, I checked our records with your qualifications and you're right, there aren't many jobs that you can apply for, but I may have found some."
She sat back down at her desk, and gestured for me to take a seat opposite her.
"This is for a Gym instructor." She handed me a file and I opened it. I took one look at the picture of the gym and closed it.
"No."
"Dimitri, I know you miss Ivan, we all do," she sympathised, "but he wouldn't want you to avoid the mere mention of his memory."
"I know, but I need more time." I begged. She smiled,
"Okay, how about this one?" she asked, handing me another identical file. Inside was a brief introduction to the job.
"A yoga teacher?" I asked in disbelief, "I'm sorry, but can you imagine me doing that?"
"Not particularly. Vika chose that one." She said, a small smile on her lips, "the only options we really have are gym related, a personal fitness instructor? Self-defence? I know these aren't your thing, but you'll have to choose eventually. I put some other ideas in there as well, you won't like them but it's an idea." She said. "Take these and look through them in your spare time." She handed me an entire stack of files and I nodded gratefully.
Another two weeks later
Roza still hadn't replied, and I was getting worried. I finally relented and decided to send her another letter. Maybe the last one never made it? What if something was wrong?
Dear Roza,
You didn't reply to my last letter, so I thought I should check up on you. I thought you might be hurt, and-
I looked up at the knocking on the door, and went to go see who it was.
"Hello, I have a package you need to sign for."
"Oh, okay." I said, giving the postman a small smile, and signing on the electronic notepad he handed me.
"Here ya go." He said, taking the notepad back and handing over a small pile of mail and a box.
I kicked the door closed behind me, and placed all of it on the table.
I went for the parcel first, curious to what it could be. I opened it up, to find a letter on top of another box.
Dear Dimitri, it read.
We were told by the officer that came to see us how you tried to save Ivan's life, and to know he had a friend that close to him is a comforting thought to have. Thank you, Dimitri. We are forever grateful for all that you have done for our son. He wasn't in a good place when you reconnected, but you managed to get him back to his old self again.
We had to clear out his old apartment last week, and we found some photographs that we felt you should have, along with some other items.
We would like it if we could still keep in touch; I know my wife would love to see you again and thank you in person, as would I.
The memorial is next week, and we hope to see you there.
Kindest regards,
Mr. and Mrs. Zeklos.
I opened up the second box to find an assortment of memories, from when Ivan and I first met, our trips to the gym… the day we left for the army training camp.
Buried underneath all these photos, was something that made a sob rise up in my chest.
His beret and dog tags. The two things that no soldier should ever be without, now in my possession. I carefully put everything back in the box, promising myself to properly look through them all later.
"The next letter filled me with joy at the sight of the name on the envelope.
'Comrade.'
I tore it open and read the words she'd scribbled down, smiling to myself at the mention of her being worried about me.
As soon as I'd finished reading, I turned on my laptop and went straight to my email to reply to her.
September 1, 2010
Dear Roza,
I'm sorry about your father; he just wants to protect you. Don't be too angry at him for that – if you were my daughter I'd want to protect you, too.
I was worried when I didn't hear from you; I was afraid that you were hurt, or worse.
Since I sent my last letter, I went to a job centre, and have started looking to find something that I might enjoy. There isn't much for me to choose from, and I shouldn't be picky, but nothing I've found so far really appeals to me.
I hope you are well,
-Your Comrade.
I finished the email, and clicked send, before turning back to the job files.
The majority were for gyms, and none of them sounded appealing to me. Others were army-related jobs, like recruiting, engineers, that sort of thing. After Ivan, however, I wanted nothing to do with the army and ignored those as well. I gave up after a while, and turned to a large envelope that I hadn't opened yet. It was from Karolina's work, and inside was another folder.
I opened it up to find another possible job – but this one I was willing to do.
Just wanted to take a minute to ask my readers to check out another one of my stories. Its called 'The Elemental Wanderer'. It has about the same amount of chapters as this story, but has only a third of the readers and reviews. It's kind of discouraging :( I wouldn't really mind the lack of readers and reviews except that all of my other stories are doing so well. It makes me feel like 'The Elemental Wanderer' just isn't very good.
please go check it out ( if you haven't already ) and let me know what you guys think. Please?