MELODY #2

First Goodbye (Prologue)

March, 2004

Kyiv International Airport

The husband embraced his wife as the speaker announced the flight from Kyiv to New York. The flight that would take his wife and daughter away from him for God knows how long.

His embrace lasted longer than it should, ignoring the buzzing haste of the passengers, which defined airports around the world. But the man had his own world. And he had to save his world from falling apart.

The airport was freezing cold even though it was almost springtime. It was a coldness that seeped through the coats and hearts of the parting young couple.

"Be safe, Nadia," the husband whispered. "Take care of our daughter until I see you again."

His wife nodded through her tears. "Don't be late. We need you."

"I will follow you as soon as I fix this mistake," he said bitterly.

His wife held his face, her tears flowing. "Please, be careful. We can't survive without you."

"Yes you can!" He grabbed her wrists, fixing his eyes on hers. "You must. There's no other way."

His wife sobbed. "They won't leave you alone."

He wiped her tears. "I have to do the right thing. For us. For our daughter. I need to redeem myself, Nadia."

"What if you can't?" She moaned. "What if they hurt you?"

He shook his head, stroking her cheek. "I'll be fine. Have hope, moya kokhana."

His daughter stood on tiptoes, reaching out her small hands. "Papa, carry me."

Her father kneeled and scooped her up. She wound her arms around his neck and laid her head on his shoulder.

"I love you, mylashka," he rasped.

The four year old clung to her father's coat collar and kissed his icy cheek. "Love you, Papa."

Her father hugged her tighter. He buried his face into her soft hair, breathing in as if to store her smell in his lungs for the longest time.

"Be a good girl, myla." His voice broke. "Look after momma. I will come to you soon."

The girl's head snapped, eyes round. "You not coming with us?"

The father swallowed a lump in his throat, resisting the tears that threatened to break his composure. "Papa has work, myla. But I will be with you and momma very soon."

"Tomorrow?"

"Not tomorrow, but I will bring your favorite ice cream." He forced a cheerful smile. "I will follow you so fast before the ice cream melts."

"Come now." The girl pouted, her lower lip trembled. Her wide, blue eyes swam with tears ready to spill.

The father took a sharp breath and looked away, while the last call for their flight echoed in the airport terminal.

"Take her, Nadia," he croaked, unwinding his daughter's arms from around his neck. He kissed her small hand, before he handed her to her mother.

The girl began to wail in her mother's arms, her little face turning pink. "Papa, please, come with me!"

Her mother held her tightly, her own tears unstoppable. She pecked her husband on the lips, sending him a long, imploring look.

He groaned, squeezing his eyes shut. "Go, Nadia, go."

"Papa! Papa! No! Papa!"

The man turned on his heels and strode away before his self-control failed him.

The bustling terminal drowned out the child's shrill cries, and the mother's muffled sobs as they parted ways.

****

A/N

Annnnnd FINALLY!!!!! MELODY IS BACK!!!😄

I missed you all so much. I missed Melody and Akram more than you did, just to be fair. It's been a rough year, but I had hope that I'd start writing about your favorite couple again. So here you go. I know it's not much but I'm hoping to update Chapter one soon.

For all the wonderful readers. Thank you for your kind words and amazing support. you people pushed me forward like a blessing from heaven!

Much love

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