Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief - by Katrina Nannestad

Chapter Two

Doctor Orlova is sitting by my bed. She’s there most days when I wake from my afternoon sleep. Sometimes she’s smiling into my face. Other times she’s dozing in her chair. But as soon as I move, even if it’s just a twitch of my little finger, she springs to life. ‘Hello, Sasha.’ Doctor Orlova smiles, and the wrinkles around her eyes and mouth multiply. I rub my eyes and sit up, slowly, carefully, so my chest wounds don’t hurt too badly. I stare at her. I don’t smile and I don’t speak. I can’t. I’ve forgotten how. But I think the kind doctor understands. She must know I’m glad to see her, otherwise she wouldn’t keep visiting, day after day. ‘I hear you had another adventure last night.’ Doctor Orlova chuckles softly. ‘And I understand that the adventure involved Sergeant Stepanov’s pillow.’ She laughs a little louder, a little harder, so that now her bony shoulders are dancing up and down. She’s lovely and I want to smile at her. I want to say, ‘You’re beautiful, with your crinkle wrinkles and your

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