Eating Grief

March 1928.

It's been three weeks after Veronika's funeral. Irina has just bottle-fed and sleep peacefully on the bed, with pillows stacked around her like a fortress. Semyon know his baby girl won't awake for the next three hours. So he can sneak to the kitchen, for opening the secret stash of alcohol he had.

Then he look in front of him ; a replica of his late wife but shrunk to fairy-sized. He know it's wrong. He knew he should not dependent on this replica spell too much, even though it's only temporary and can be dispered easily. But the grief still won, for Semyon made the replica small to store his magical energy.

Usually, that replica only repeating the memories and the same topic they ever talked. It entertains Semyon enough as he drank another shot of alcohol... just like weeks ago. But today just before he gets drunk once again... suddenly this replica look at Semyon without command.

And without warning, Veronica's replica spoke with sad smile:

"Don't be sad, darl. 

It's not your fault, never did.

I don't care with any past about you.

You've been good to me and our daughter.

She becomes a beautiful girl, even without me near her.

And when time comes by...

...

Promise me not to crying when me meet.

Again."

Then Veronika flew and landed to Semyon's shoulder. She nested and nuzzled on him before slowly vanished, leaving Semyon alone. And since then, Semyon only casting the replica of himself, to applying and working hard in Alexandrov Ensemble. And real himself... always make sure to be an available father for the little daughter.