Dima
Adrian shows up later to take us back. He brings his sister, Nadia, to help us clean the place, per Ravil’s request. There’s no cleaning service out here, and Ravil wouldn’t trust anyone but an insider to know where the place is.
Nadia doesn’t speak much English yet, and I think Ravil gives her jobs to try to coax her into the world of the living. She barely leaves the apartment, which is understandable. She’s suffered a trauma no human should ever have to endure.
At the moment, I find her depressing presence a perfect match for mine. I give her and Adrian quiet instructions about what needs to be done before we leave and work until evening.
When we have everything clean and our things packed, they head out to the car.
“Just… give me a few minutes,” I say.
I walk around the outs
