Tatiana rang the buzzer and waited. She was casually dressed in a jumper and jeans. It wasn’t a date with Laura being there, but hopefully another step in that direction.

The door opened. It was Laura.

“Ah Tatiana, great to see you. Come on in!”

Tatiana handed her a box of chocolates.

“Oh, there was no need. Thanks!”

The apartment was spacious. Laura directed her through to the living room where Daniel was parked up alongside a long sofa. Instinctively, she sat beside him.

“How are you Daniel?”

He was dressed in a white shirt with a navy trousers.

“I am good and you?”

“I am fine, what is the movie?”

“Laura picked it so don’t blame me. Something about Alabamba or something. She has terrible taste.”

With, that they both began to giggle.

Laura entered the room.

“Oh, I need to sit there Tatiana. Just in case he needs anything.”

Tatiana understood and somewhat disappointed, let her in between them.

The name of the film turned out to be “Sweet Home Alabama”. It was a romantic comedy and although it was quite good, she couldn’t help but try to glance over at Daniel every now and then.

The film lasted for about an hour and a half.

Then Laura asked, “Can I speak to you for a second in the kitchen Tatiana?”

It seemed like an odd request but she followed him out.

“You like him don’t you?”

“Yes, Daniel is nice..”

Smiling, Laura continued.

“No, you really like him. He doesn’t realize being a man. I see the way you look at him and it’s okay. Just go easy on him. He hasn’t really been round many women since his accident. Look I’m going to give you two some time alone. Give me a shout when your leaving and I’ll put him to bed.”

Tatiana looked closely at the mirror to make sure she was looking her best. She wasn’t fully happy but it would have to do or she would miss the event. Hopefully, he would be there, but if not it was a great opportunity to make new friends anyway.

Hastily, she locked her apartment door. It was cold and breezy outside. She hoped that it wouldn’t toss her long blonde hair.

A crowd had already formed around the coffee shop. Bumping her way through people, she made her way inside and towards the counter.

“Ah Tatiana love, great to see you. I was worried you might not come and looking so beautiful too. Now, will you buy one of these little buns? Two euro each. All proceeds go to your country, Ukraine.”

“Yes, of course”

“Ah, great here ya go. Now those lovely people I was telling you about are over there. Go over there and have a chat. I told them to expect you.”

Tatiana turned around and there he was with his sister.

Her heart fluttered.

“Hi, I’m Tatiana.”

They raised their heads up from the table. The sister spoke first.

“Oh, hi Tatiana, Nellie told us all about you. Sit down there. My name is Laura and this is my brother Daniel.

“Hi,” said Daniel sheepishly.

“Nice to meet the two of yous.”

Tatiana nervously took a chair from the other table and sat down beside them. She was worried about what to say but needn’t have. Laura took the lead.

“So, Nellie was telling us you’re from Ukraine. Awful what’s happening over there.”

“Yes, it is. I worry about my parents. They were too old to come.”

Her eyes began to well up.

Laura put her hand on her shoulder to comfort her.

“Perhaps we’ll talk about something else,” Daniel said, “What are your hobbies?”

He spoke in a deep, entrancing voice.

“Oh, I love science fiction.”

“Oh no,” Laura said to laughing from Daniel, “you too will get on great!”

For the next hour and a couple of buns each, they chatted away. Tatiana noticed how Laura would attend to Daniel’s every need. Making sure that he had a proper clasp of his food to asking if he was comfortable. She wished it was her.

Then, all too it was time for them to go.

“We have to go Tatiana. But we are planning on watching a film at eight tomorrow in our apartment. Will you come” Laura asked.

“We are?” Daniel said.

“Yes, I’ll be there.”

“Great, we’re Apartment 52 St. Andrews Place. It’s just up that way We’ll see you then!”

Tatiana found herself fidgeting at the table with her phone constantly checking the time.. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she couldn’t stop bobbling her head up and down too. There was no sign of him. This was the second time in a row that he hadn’t appeared. Perhaps, his visit had been a once off event and he wouldn’t be reappearing. The thought saddened her. He had been something of a distraction. Her home town had been bombed the previous night.

Her heart stated beating faster and a tear began to form. All those beautiful people, her former neighbors and friends. She could only hope and pray that they were okay and not ripped apart in some blast. Not to mind all the pets that were left behind to fend for themselves. And now the winter was coming.

Her coffee, which she had almost finished was now cold. It was now time to go so she went in to pay.

“How are you keeping love? You look sad? Worried about home?”

“It was bombed last night.”

“Oh God. That’s awful. Don’t be worrying about the price of that coffee. Actually, we’re running a fundraiser here for Ukraine this Saturday at ten in the morning. Perhaps, you would like to come? It was Laura’s idea. You might not remember her. She was here with her brother in the wheelchair the other day. You seen them. I’d say you’d all get a long great. What do you say? Will you come along?”

“Yes, I’ll be there.”

“Fantastic”

Tatiana thrashed back and forth in her bed. But it was of no use. She couldn’t get her mind to think of anything else other than the guy she had seen earlier in the day. He was so handsome sitting there in his wheelchair. His face was masculine, with a square jaw and beautiful blue eyes. Even his bit of stubble looked good. He had a bit of a belly and skinny legs. Oh, how she wanted to reach out and touch them. To caress his body and run her fingers through his jet black hair.

No, this can’t be normal, to feel so attracted to someone. What is wrong with her? Is she a freak?

How did he become disabled anyway?

Would he be able to feel her touch?

Was that his girlfriend? What was it they said in Ireland? The bitch.

All these thoughts ran ferociously through her mind. The sweat was dripping from her now so she threw one of the covers off her bed.

She had to see him again.

There was only one thing to do. Visit the coffee shop at the same the next day. Was that not stalking though? It would have to remain her dirty secret.

Tatiana looked out the window at the rain and the mostly empty street below. She had never before seen so much rain, but finally there were signs that it was about to clear. It hadn’t stopped all day, so it would be about time. But this was Ireland, and she couldn’t pretend that the locals hadn’t warned her. It was one of the first things that they had mentioned to her. She couldn’t help but smile thinking about the friendly welcome. The warm smiles and friendly handshakes.

It was such a relief after coming from a warzone. It had all happened so fast. She had always thought Russian and Ukrainians were brother peoples. Not anymore. She had seen and heard the talk about the military build-up but had dismissed it.

“What will we do if they attack?” her aged mother had lamented over the phone from Kyiv.

“They will not attack; it is just for the cameras!”

But then it happened. She remembered hearing the air raid siren for the first time and how it had sent a chill through her.

She was in Odessa and people feared that it would fall within days. Before, it had even really sunk in, she was on the Polish border. There was confusion about where she should go next. But, when the option of Ireland came up, she took it. Of course, she had expected to be in a big city like Dublin, not Killarney in a rural setting on the west coast.

But she was happy here. The peace and quiet took her mind off the happenings back home. And there was a lovely coffee shop just down the road. Now that the rain was easing off, that’s where she was going now.