Tomorrow must be

The time when he had disappeared from my life had been very difficult for him. And understanding that I was going through an important period, he chose not to distract me or burden me with his problems.

During the time we weren’t in touch, a woman from his past reappeared in his life. A woman he had been involved with before me. I knew her, and I knew why they had broken up. Back then, she had considered him unpromising and had erased him from her life, choosing someone else. And now, years later, she had returned, seeking him out, waiting for him by his building, calling him. She wouldn’t take no for an answer. She thought she could easily win back someone who had once belonged to her. She gave him no peace. And it began to irritate him. Still, she wouldn’t stop.

On the day that destroyed everything between us, he ran into her again outside his building. He suggested to take a walk and finally settle things once and for all. He didn’t want to talk near the building, because neighbors might misunderstand. He had no intention of inviting her inside or to a café.

They walked toward the embankment.

At the very moment I saw them, she leaned against his shoulder for a brief second, crying, trying to pull him back into the past… And a few minutes later, as I ran home, beside myself with grief, he pushed her away and firmly told her that he was serious about me…

His letter completely threw me off the course of my life. Everything lost its meaning. My move to this city, my current job, my carefully planned life… everything I had come to value.

I had no idea how to go on. I wanted so badly to believe the man who meant so much to me. But in the time, we had spent apart, we had become strangers. And I didn’t know what it would take to change that.

How could that be? I love him with all my heart, and in his letter, he wrote that he loved me. And yet some inexplicable force wouldn’t let the block of ice inside me melt, wouldn’t let me open my heart to the man I loved.

Lost in these bleak thoughts, I made my way to work. I had no idea how to go on. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. Least of all see Madame with her self-satisfied look.

Chapter 10. The Loss

But I had to postpone thinking about my life as soon as I came at work, at least until the evening.

Since Elena Ivanovna was almost independent from our department, the task of compiling reports was ceremoniously handed over to me. Madame kept track of whether they were completed and submitted on time. The actual figures in the reports didn’t interest her. Sometimes she pretended to look into them, but quickly grew bored and handed them back to me.

This week I had a business trip to the Main Department to defend our department’s reports. I was the one going, because they specifically asked for the person who had prepared them, in case any questions came up. Quite reasonable.

On the way, I also had to deliver documents from various departments of the facility to the Main Department office. Everything neatly organized according to an inventory list: staff photos to the HR department and large ones for personal files and small ones for ID cards. All the photos were labeled on the back and stamped.

What you might call a personal delivery. Much faster than sending everything by mail. And cheaper, too. After all, an employee was going there anyway.

The documents from the office, carefully packed, lay on the desk in front of me. The photos, along with the staff list, were in a file beside them. I just needed to pack everything into my bag and go sort out my travel authorization and ticket. I also had to check the schedule.

Getting the Main Department is extremely inconvenient. To be there in the morning, you have to leave in the middle of the night. An early breakfast at a station cafe in the morning. Then all the business at here, and departure back around four or five in the afternoon. Arrival late at night. And the next day, you are allowed to come in later, around noon.

Today, Irina is taking the same bus as me. She has to go to the department on the other side of the regional city. She offered to buy me a ticket and rushed off, while I stayed behind to finish my work.

We agreed to meet at my place in the evening, get some rest, and then take a taxi to arrive right on time for the bus departure.

I gave the report one last careful look. Of course, it had already been signed, but the middle pages could easily be reprinted if I spotted any mistakes. No, everything was fine.

I copied it onto a flash drive, which I also packed.

Since I was leaving on a night trip, I was allowed to leave work early, which I did after informing Madame.

By four in the afternoon, I was already walking out of the administration building, planning to stroll leisurely to the bus stop.

Irina would come after seven p.m., so I had plenty of time.

But as soon as I stepped outside, I saw Valentin Ivanovich. Ivanovich was an instructor at the vocational school, and I was surprised to see him at that hour.

Usually, the instructors left shortly after two in the afternoon.

But today, for reasons unknown to me, Valentin Ivanovich had stayed late and offered to give me a ride. Not just anywhere, but right to my building.

Of course, I couldn’t refuse such a generous offer.

Before Irina arrived, I managed to prepare a simple dinner. By nine in the evening we were already trying to fall asleep on my big unfolded sofa, planning to get up closer to midnight.

A little later, half-asleep and slightly groggy from the interrupted rest, we were on our way to the regional city. We rode, chatted, took a nap. By the time dawn began to break, we were already entering the city.

Breakfast at the station canteen finally shook off the last traces of sleep. We still had plenty of time, and unhurriedly, savoring the moment, we each had a cup of coffee, discussing where we would meet later and what we might manage to do before leaving. The plan was to walk around the summer city, visit a shopping center, and maybe even buy something. And even if we didn’t, at least to get the mood up. In high spirits, we went our separate ways to different parts of the city.

After passing through the Main Department checkpoint, I quickly dropped off the documents at the office and headed toward HR, feeling for the file with the photos as I walked. As I was already pulling it out, I realized something was wrong. The file felt unusually light.

I took it out and saw only the accompanying list of employees whose photos I had brought. The photos themselves were gone. A sticky wave of horror dropped like a stone inside me, settling low in my stomach. Is this a joke? What am I supposed to do?

I stepped into the hallway and called Irina, briefly explaining the situation.

“What do I do, Irina? I honestly have no idea! Where could those photos be? I’ve gone through my entire bag, they’re nowhere!” I was shaking. This had never happened to me before. I always approached my work with utmost responsibility.

Stop, I told myself. The sequence of events began to unfold in my mind.

Yesterday, in the office, I checked everything. I laid it all out on my desk so it would be easy to take. I remember counting the photos, clipping them together, and putting them into the file. I was worried one might slip out, because they’re small, three by four, so I handled them very carefully. And now the file is completely empty. Except for the list.

“I remember!” I was so overwrought that I actually let out a gasp. “I checked everything before leaving work. Packed it neatly. Took it straight home without stopping anywhere.”

“Exactly,” Irina supported me. “Ivanovich gave you a ride.”

“Right. Then how could they disappear? No one but me could have taken them at home, and I didn’t touch the bag before leaving.”

Nothing made sense. So, I called Madame. Lately, Elena Ivanovna had been absent, and the correctional workers were almost always in the units, dropping by the office for just a few minutes in the evenings. Which meant that most of the time, it was just me and Madame in the office.

Interesting.

I was trembling. A strange mix of helplessness and anger gave me a sudden surge of determination.

When I called her, I first told her that I hadn’t delivered the photos and asked if she had seen the envelope on my desk, and whether anyone had come into the office while I was arranging my travel paperwork with HR.

Her response only deepened my suspicions. I had the unsettling feeling that she wasn’t surprised at all. As if she HAD KNOWN it would happen.

I no longer felt like walking around shops. Fine. I just need to submit the report as quickly as possible and head back. I needed time to think.

After waiting in a short line of people defending their reports, I got through mine quickly and called Irina. She hadn’t finished her own business yet, but supported my decision to leave as soon as possible. That settled it.

I wanted to look Madame in the eyes at the moment she would least expect it. Early the next morning. She would only be expecting me around noon. And for a conversation like that, I needed to be well-rested.

That evening, for the first time in a long while, I called Darling.

I missed him, but I understood that if he started pressuring me, it could destroy the fragile connection we had just begun to rebuild.

But everything went surprisingly well. He was happy to hear my voice and thanked me for calling. The sound of his voice calmed me, and the ice inside me began to melt. And in that moment, those long months disappeared. That foolish breakup no longer existed.

There was just him and me. And no one else in the whole wide world.

Chapter 11. The Trap

“Of course, the best decision for you is resignation,” Madame’s voice was waving at me.

“Can you imagine, what such of buzz is coming?” Service inspection, you know. And then you’ll be fired for non-compliance. Can you imagine? Where will you go? It’s “wolf ticket”!”

I was reflecting in front of the cup of tea, that was served too caring by her. I was trying to analyze the situation.

“Drink it! There are cookies and sweets, don’t be shy,” Madam’s smug face was simply radiating joy, which she couldn’t hide. The voice sounded subtle and melodic.

Madam got confused a bit, when she saw me in the morning. She didn’t expect to see me, so I was watching confusion on her sleek face.

But she got a grip too fast. And then the conversation became too interesting and unexpected for me.

I didn’t expect such suggestion nor such conversation. And it caught me by surprise.

I was trembling. Confusion and fear. A pounding in my temples, my heart racing, fear spread through me in a hot wave. My thoughts darted around, searching for a way out.