The Bronze Horseman

“Tatiana! Thou shall not be afraid for the terror by night… nor for the arrow that flieth by day… nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near thee.”

imitri,” Tatiana said without blinking, “woe to him
who is alone when he falls, for he has not another to pick him up.”

Some words were like that. Whole lives attached to them.

She whispered, “I wish I knew a prayer. I need a prayer right now, but I don’t know one. Dear God, please let my only sister Dasha swim in peace and not ever be cold again, and please… can you let her have all the daily bread she can eat, up in Heaven… ?”

Maybe that’s what grown-ups did. They kissed your breasts and then pretended it meant nothing.

“Never compromise on what your heart tells you to be right, my granddaughter,” Deda said, getting up and hugging her.

“Life is so unpredictable. That’s what I like least about it.
If only life were more like math. ”