Woke Up In A New Decade

Chapter Eighteen

Picture: the romanovs with their cousins in Lividia.

November 1912

Olgas birthday came and went, she had a poshly made vanilla cake and we got small pieces. She loved her whoopie pies and aunt Olga kept us updated of the conversation. When I sat us I mean Cian, Caoimhe and me. They haven't had it yet but it was coming close. I didn't know why they took so long to talk to me about it. I didn't want my frontal lobe or parts of my brain tampered with, it was hard to think of anything else but the surgery they planned to make me have which was unnecessary.

"Well, I have to say that Kiki's, Astrids and my frontal lobe is fragile. The frontal lobe is the largest lobe of the brain and makes up about a third of the surface area of each hemisphere. On the lateral surface of each hemisphere, the central sulcus separates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe. The lateral sulcus separates the frontal lobe from the temporal lobe. In humans, the frontal lobe reaches full maturity only after the 20s. We are under that age it can be dangerous and can cause death." Cian shrugged. He said he was stupid and knew this?

I was painting a flower with Cian and Kiki when the big pair came in with a camera. "Mama requested a picture of Astrid and then a picture of all of you guys together." Olga muttered. I stood up from the desk and Tatiana set it up. They took photos of me and then me, Cian and Kitty.

"Mama misses you, Astrid. She misses you too Cian and Kitty." Tatiana said. "Tell her we miss her too." Little Caoimhe finally said for the first time in forever. I went back to painting. "Auntie Olga said there is a meeting taking place soon, the ladies in waiting will be watching us." Olga said. My throat tightened up and I couldn't breath like I had Heinrich's asthma and was winded. "Asya what's wrong?" Asked Olga. "Nothing.." I managed to say. "Umm. Are you sure?" Tatiana chimed in. I quickly nodded while my hands were in my lap.

"We are not stupid, tell us what's wrong because they know too." Olga demanded. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath and looked at them. "Grandmother wants me to have brain surgery..." I muttered. Their eyes widened and Olga managed to squeak a 'WHAT?' Out.

"She what's something done to my frontal lobe, that's why you are here.." I muttered. Olga hugged me. "as i said before. iki's, Astrids and my frontal lobe is fragile. The frontal lobe is the largest lobe of the brain and makes up about a third of the surface area of each hemisphere. On the lateral surface of each hemisphere, the central sulcus separates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe. The lateral sulcus separates the frontal lobe from the temporal lobe. In humans, the frontal lobe reaches full maturity only after the 20s. We are under that age it can be dangerous and can cause death." Cian said.

"Papà and mama would never agree to this." Olga reassured. I whispered shaking, "I'm not sure.." Tatiana took her gaze off me knowing they were capable of those thoughts.

"Let's go outside, it's nice today but we still may need our coats." Olga said. I nodded my head, the big pairs room have coats so we went there and got them. While walking passed Grandmothers tea room with the great piano I heard arguing. Cian and Kiki stopped with me.

"She can't have surgery! Do you went her to be mentally challenged for the rest of her life?!" I heard an angry aunt Olga yell in anger through double doors. "But there is a chance she will go back to normal." Grandmother argued. "DO YOU EVER THINK SHE MIGHT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THIS?!" Aunt Olga yelled, there was a long pause before Tanya took me away.

"Russian soldiers and officers will accompany us instead of danish ones, is that okay?" Olenka asked. I nodded my head while Liesel slipped my coat on me. When we were done, the ladies in Waiting and the Standart officers were waiting. I couldn't believe my eyes. "Malcolm?" I muttered softly. The big pair were gone talking to other officers. He didn't hear or notice I was here. Cian came out and they hugged each other and patted each others back. I went up behind Malcolm and patted his shoulder, he turned frustrated and realised it was me. Cian did a kissing action and left giggling.

"Astrid!" He exclaimed. He hugged me and I returned it. "I missed you so much." He said as he pulled away for a second. "Oh, I apologise." He voiced, i was confused until I meant it was for the hug. "You don't need to apologise for anything." I talked. I walked next to him as the group of people moved to the garden of the huge palace.

"How have you been?" He questioned me, I looked away and pondered of what to answer with. "I have been living here for two months, it's different. The weather, the architecture, the people, the culture." "Do you ever miss Russia?" "Yes I do, I miss it like I miss my family." Malcolm stopped talking and turned to me, he whispered, "did you miss me?"

I was taken back at his weird voice and how close he was standing next to me. I turned to see nobody in plain sight. "Yes." I stuttered out. He smiles at me as he put his hand on my cheek and began stroking it, my face lit up red. I never had a boyfriend before.

"We don't know each other too well." I said as I avoided his gaze. "We can get to." He muttered "I-"

Suddenly, a loud and sharp voice broke them from their thoughts. "Asya!" Tanya called out. "We should go before they get suspicious." I said, he agreed with me as he nodded. He took his hand off my tomato red face.