Sweet Retrieval

One - Home away from home

Life would offer new perspectives to Maya Leonov, a recent high school graduate, who was looking forward to leaving - finally - the home known until then, and the protection of her parents, Nicola and Raúl.

Notable people in her hometown, Nicola and Raúl, a doctor and a prosecutor, often used their influence to help their two children, Maya and Nicholas, whenever they strayed. In fact, being the only grandchildren of old Necolai, a distant relative of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, the two brothers were pampered for a lifetime, satisfying their every desire, at any time, day or night.

But the thing that determined Maya to leave Chisinau and come to Romania was the fact that their family's expectations were too much for her to bear. Being descendants of the Tsar's family, their parents formed one of the most adored families in Russia. They were important people in society and often hosted or participated in the same kind of events. The pressure on Maya and Nicholas's shoulders from an early age was enormous, because they always had to be role models, even if they went out into society while still sucking on a bottle. And she had to admit, they were not quiet children, despite the education they received from their mother and from the private teachers hired by their parents.

Smiling to herself, she told herself that everything would change now. The shy girl remained in the past, being replaced by a confident and sexy young woman. Now she was a first year student, at one of the hardest specializations of the prestigious Faculty of Medicine in Târgu Mureș. She gave her best at the entrance exam, managing to enter the second out of a total of seventy students. And her parents were still unhappy. In their opinion, she should have entered first, and at a considerable distance from the other students.

After the opening ceremony of the academic year, the students from the group in which she was assigned met the tutor of the year, they were informed about the classrooms, the way of examination, they received the schedule for the current week and then were allowed to socialize to get to know each other.

From the group of students of group D2, the only person whose attitude impressed her was Delia Toma. The opposite of her physique, but twin in thought, Delia was a girl of average height and weight, with dark brown hair, green eyes, thin lips and blurred cheeks. At first glance, she seemed a gentle, merciful person, afraid of

God, interested in the good of those around her. And this time, the appearances were not misleading. Delia told Maya about her volunteer work at the Pediatric Hospital, and the rewarding satisfactions. You could easily imagine an angel wearing the face of her colleague and helping the poor children hospitalized for weeks, even months.

Maya shared her enthusiasm and wished she could do something like her colleague. She was interested in doing good to abandoned children, concluding that they would make a good team for any project they chose in the future. She told her colleague her ideas and plan, and she agreed to work together. They would make a good team both in and out of college.

At the insistence of old Necolai, Nicola and Raúl created funds for their children for college, in case they wanted to continue their studies. Maya finally got access to a small monthly fee, allowing herself to move - from the first week of school - from the crouded room of the dormitory, along with Delia, her good-at-all colleague, to the nice and comfortable apartment where she was staying.

Her new home was located on the second floor of the six-story building, in a quiet neighborhood not far from

faculty. Delia told her on every occasion that she could not have found a better offer for such an apartment. It wasn't much but it was their home.

Maya associated the apartment with an oasis of peace. The front door faced a small, dark hallway, with a ceiling rich in spotlights. The only piece of furniture was a massive hanger, at first sight antique, like the ones in the books she adored. The bathroom was to the right of the entrance, next to Delia's room. Maya's room was on the opposite side of the bathroom and the kitchen was between the two bedrooms.

The recently renovated kitchen was lit by the window to the main street. The light that entered the room provided an image drawn as if from interior design magazines. The furniture covered the wall to the left of the window, the table and the four chairs on the opposite side. The refrigerator, stove and washing machine were built into the furniture, providing more room for movement.

Maya's room was painted in two colors. The walls were cream, and the ceiling and the various models made of plasterboard were a light brown. It was a sanctuary of peace, offering a view of the neighborhood park. It was relaxing and enjoyable at the same time. She knew she would enjoy living here, and she was looking forward to the next day, unaware that life had a big surprise in store for her.