“No,” Lana whispered.
“What happened?” Victoria sat down beside her, concerned, glancing at the large, half-open travel bag near the wardrobe.
“My father was in a car accident…”
“Oh no…”
“He’s still in intensive care. I came to get my things. I’ll be staying home for a while.”
“Sweetheart, I’m so sorry,” Victoria said and hugged her.
“Thank you. The doctors said he’s in stable condition, but still… Mom’s a wreck—she hasn’t stopped crying.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
Lana smiled faintly and shook her head.
“I hope you’ll come back soon,” Victoria said as she walked her to the entrance.
Lana got into a taxi and waved goodbye.
Two days later, Viktor Alexandrovich passed away without ever regaining consciousness.
Victoria stayed by Lana’s side the entire time. After the traditional forty-day memorial, she returned to the dorm.
“Vikulya, stay with us,” Lana’s mother offered, having grown even more attached to her daughter’s friend, touched by her care and kindness.
“Thank you so much, Aunt Olya, but I’m more comfortable at the dorm. I’ll visit often,” Victoria replied warmly.
Lana knew the real reason her friend declined—it had to do with her frequent late-night outings. Unless someone from the factory got assigned to room with her, that brown-eyed heartthrob would likely be a regular guest. In Olga Nikolaevna’s house, Victoria couldn’t afford to live so freely.
“We have to move on,” Lana’s mother said, shaking her head.
They were sitting in the dim room of the house, which felt instantly empty after the death of its master.
“Someone else will run your father’s business now. If we don’t find a manager, we’ll have to sell it.”
“And then what?”
“I don’t know yet, sweetheart. I just don’t know…”
Lana quit the factory, and due to family circumstances, she soon received her diploma.
Victoria continued working in her old position as assistant sales manager. Still, the two friends didn’t drift apart. They visited each other often and spent their free time together whenever possible.
“You need someone from the metal business,” Victoria said thoughtfully.
“Finding a metalworker isn’t the problem—finding someone trustworthy is,” Lana sighed.
“True that.”