engineer – and a sense of melancholy washed over Olga. «Ah, I wish I could grow up quickly and live a life of my own,» she dreamed.
The train, whisking away its joyous passengers, seemed to bring with it dreams of a different, undoubtedly more beautiful life. A life free from a worn-out vegetable garden, and most importantly, a life without a stepmother…
In that moment, Alexander Blok's poem On the Railroad, which she had once transcribed into her gymnasium diary, flashed in her mind:
… Once only a Hussar, carelessly leaning
His elbow on the scarlet velvet,
Smiled gently at her in passing…
In passing – and the train rushed on.
Just so, futile youth flew past,
Worn out in empty fantasies…
Till iron railroad longing shrieked,
And shrieking tore its heart apart…
«Well, no!» thought Olga. «I will not succumb to ennui! My dreams are not in vain. I will achieve everything I want!»
Impatiently, she waited until she completed her schooling, and then she set forth to enroll in a labor school in Kiev. A whole new world awaited her there!
Chapter 5: Matchmaking in Lazirky
Olga didn't hesitate for long after Leonid's sensational appearance in Lazirky. It was no ordinary visit from an old friend; it was a marriage proposal – unexpected and sudden, almost from the doorstep, after two years of not seeing each other.
She vividly remembered that June day in Kiev. Having completed the last exam of the summer session at the Higher Institute of Public Education, she and her girlfriends strolled down the boulevard from the Red Building of the former university to Khreschatyk Street. Near the bustling Khreschatyk Street, their path was obstructed by a lively group of young men who immediately sought to make their acquaintance. But among them stood Leonid, now grown up, lean, clad in the uniform of a railroader, his face beaming with a smile. What an extraordinary encounter!
Strangely enough, in the city, they seldom crossed paths. Though they attended the same university, their interactions were infrequent. Olga was a philology student, while Leonid, a free student, majoring in Physics and Mathematics, primarily focused on his education at the technical school of railroad transportation, which left him with scarce free time. Their relationship in Kiev, therefore, felt peculiar – perhaps the intensity of their respective academic pursuits left little room for sentiment or perhaps life's hardships stood in the way. Nonetheless, Olga always cherished the rare moments of meeting her childhood friend.
On that evening, the young men celebrated the conclusion of their studies at the technical college. The next day, Olga would return home, while Leonid was bound for an internship as a mechanic on the Central Asian railroad.
«Oh, what a dreadful prospect!» Olga couldn't help blurting out at the time, thinking to herself «To the middle of nowhere, amidst dust and heat, a mere mechanic.» Taking note of how deeply it affected him. His smile vanished instantly.
Back home, Olga couldn't shake the memory of how Leonid had gazed at her – his happy eyes never leaving her side. His sparkling humor endeared him to all her girlfriends without exception.
«Olga, you're lucky! Clever, polite – and with a bright future,» Galina said with unmistakable envy. «What a handsome young man with those blue eyes!»
«What future? Have I not grown up with railroads? Do you think I haven't seen a mechanic?» Olga retorted, trying to deflect her true feelings.
Yet deep down, she knew she wasn't being entirely honest, not only with her friends but with herself. She couldn't bring herself to admit that Leonid Mirachevsky meant more to her than just a friend. Perhaps, it was because he had never spoken openly about his feelings either.
«What have I done? I fear I've hurt him. But really, Central Asia isn't all sunshine and roses. I was merely showing sympathy,» Olga tried to rationalize her actions.
In that moment, it seemed he wanted to say something, but after her foolish remark, he never found the courage to do so.
And now, a completely transformed Leonid arrived in Lazirky – an urban resident, a student at the esteemed Moscow State University of Railway Engineering.
How did he end up here?
«Imagine, I was traveling from Kamyanyets to Moscow, via Kiev, of course. And on the platform, I literally bumped into Ivan Shramko. Remember him?» Leonid explained.
«The redhead? Of course! We were almost neighbors,» Olga recollected their most adventurous companion in their quest for knowledge during their «gymnasium journeys.»
«He informed me that you're no longer a student and have become a teacher here in Lazirky,» Leonid continued. He paused briefly, then with determination, he added, «I realized I couldn't miss this opportunity.»
He fell silent, turning away from the window. Then, speaking much more softly, he continued:
«I'm surprised you didn't notice. But you've always been somewhat independent, haven't you?»
And finally, he smiled once again.
«I came here to marry you. Will you accept?»
The gravity of his words left Olga stunned, momentarily silent.
«Aren't you going to say anything?» Leonid looked puzzled.
Olga's eyes flickered with uncertainty. «To say or not to say it?» she pondered. «You've never directly spoken about your feelings before, have you?»
Before Leonid could respond, Olga continued, «No, of course, your sentiments were evident without words. And it wasn't just me,» they shared a synchronized smile. «But you never made any moves, did you? And then you disappeared.»
Leonid turned serious.
«That's true. But what could I have offered you back then? I was a poor student,» he explained. He silenced any objections from Olga with a decisive gesture. «No, listen! You deserved better than that.
And you're right – I am still a student now. However, I stand on much firmer ground, and I'm confident in it!»
Olga listened in amazement, realizing that there was much she didn't know about her childhood acquaintance and that many more revelations were yet to come.
After a moment's silence, as they gazed out the darkening window, Leonid continued, «And then I disappeared… You remember, it was during the vacations: you went to your father, and I had my practice…»
«But you never even mentioned going to Moscow!» Olga interjected.
«I wasn't planning on it!»
«Did you decide overnight?»
Leonid chuckled. «Looks like we're having our first disagreement!» he said playfully, pulling the slightly resistant girl closer. However, Olga gently pulled away.
«Listen…» Leonid's expression softened. «During the vacation, I worked part-time as a driver's assistant, commuting back and
