57

Leonid consequently dialled to Elvira's number. The call returned as unanswered. Looking frustrated, he pressed the gear and drove at a speed.

Elvira was looking exhausted, standing in her old house's hall where her real family was. Her old memory of being happy with her parents jogged her mind and triggered her to sob right away. She squatted, hugging her knees together, dropping her forehead on knee face; she began to cry out loud.

"Mama!" She whimpered and sniveled. Since the house was empty, her sobbing reverberated inside the house.

Thereafter, a shadow of a man approached her foot, her tears soaking the floor. She turned and found Leonid, who scattered solicitude toward her.

She stood up, sighed, and wiped her wet eyes.

"Let's go," said Leonid.

"Where?" Elvira bellowed, echoed inside the house as much as that could tear Leonid's ear.

"Our house," Leonid responded with a guilty face.

"Our house?" With tears brimming in her eyes, she voiced sarcasm and anger curled out of her mout