Karina (author Mel Kalman)

Ruslan woke up in the middle of the night from a nightmare, drenched in cold sweat, his palms wet, and his heart racing. The dream was so realistic that he remembered every detail and couldn't shake off the feeling that the events in the dream had actually happened. In the dream, he saw his children drowning in a river, and he couldn't save them. Ruslan lay on the riverbank, with a few empty beer bottles scattered around. The children were playing on a beach float not far from the shore. He sat up and finished the last bottle of beer.

"Dad, Dad, we're drowning. Help!" he clearly heard his daughter's cry.

Ruslan sobered up quickly and, without a second thought, jumped into the lake after his children. Looking into the blue horizon, he could see the following scene: two figures flailing in the water, frantically waving their arms, failing to swim. When he got to them, his son had gone under, and his daughter, lying on her back, was trying to float. Ruslan dived underwater for his son, but he couldn't find him. Taking a breath, he dived again. Failed again. His son was no longer within sight. With his head, now, above the water, Ruslan didn't see his daughter; she had also gone under. Panicking, he dived deeper and saw his daughter sink to the bottom of the river. He reached out to her, and she reached back, but he couldn't quite get her. He realized that if he didn't go up now, he would drown. He surfaced, tears streaming down his face, and began crying for help. The last thing he remembered was the look of despair and helplessness in his daughter's eyes.

"Dad, wake up, it's morning already, we're going to be late for school," Karina nudged him.

Ruslan stretched and got up. He closed his eyes and the expression of his drowning daughter ran through his mind again. He rubbed his eyes and blinked once more. Finally, his subconscious let go of him. Most importantly, his daughter was there, alive and well, hugging her father. He quickly got her ready, and they drove towards school. He always dropped her off a little bit away from school to avoid traffic. He was proud of his daughter; she did well at her studies, and school never bothered him about any problems.

On the way to work, memories flooded Ruslan's mind. Just a year ago, they had lived together as a happy family. Now, his son Albert and ex-wife Adele lived separately in another city after the divorce. The divorce process had been quick, and the children had decided for themselves who they wanted to stay with. He missed his son, but Adele didn't allow Ruslan to see him. Ruslan couldn't recall the reason why they had divorced. Recently, he had frequent memory lapses. That evening, he decided to tell his daughter everything and ask her.

"Karina, I can't remember how we split up with your mom, why did we get divorced? Lately, my memory has been failing me," he asked his daughter at dinner.

"Dad, again? You already asked about this two months ago," Karina cried. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she came up to her dad and hugged him.

"Don't you remember? Dad, you need to see a doctor."

"I think my memory problems started because of the stress that had been nagging me after the divorce. I remember our divorce process, but I can't recall the reason for it. Please, tell me again," Ruslan begged.

"Maybe you'll remember eventually. Last summer, we went to the river all together. Albert and I were playing on a beach float in the river. The current carried us far from the shore, and we thought we could paddle back. But the current was strong, and we didn't have enough power. To make matters worse, the float started deflating. I began screaming and calling for help. Mom had gone to buy ice cream for all of us. You had swum in the river and were sunbathing on the shore. There were very few people by the river that day. You didn't hear me at first, so I screamed even louder. You finally heard and dashed towards us. By then, the float had deflated, and we were flailing in the water and drowning. A couple of people from the other side of the river also came to help. In the end, you, together with the others, managed to reach us, we were saved. Mom had thrown a terrible tantrum; she yelled at you for not looking after us and for almost letting us drown because of your irresponsibility. You two fought for a whole week. Then Mom packed our things, and we went to her friend's place in another city. A month later, you got divorced. You know the rest."

"How strange, now I understand why I had that dream about the river incident last night." Ruslan decided not to share the entire dream to avoid traumatizing his daughter. But he couldn't understand how this memory had slipped from his mind.

"Karina, I'll go to the doctor's tomorrow. If I don't get treatment in time, I'll have even more problems with my memory. You're right, my dear," he said, kissing her on the cheek.

Two days later, Ruslan was at the doctor's office, where he was prescribed medication and vitamins to strengthen his memory. The doctor was convinced that the memory losses were caused by the stress he had experienced.

For the past year, Ruslan and his daughter had been living on the outskirts of the city, in a house near the road leading into town. His daughter didn't like living in the city cause of the noise; she preferred the quiet outskirts. Ruslan sold their apartment in the city center and bought a house chosen by his daughter.

"Dad, you are the best! This is exactly the type of house I wanted, in the forest, with a big backyard. Thank you!" Karina was very grateful to her father when they bought the house. It stood at the edge of the forest, and the backyard offered a wonderful view at the trees. Karina often went for walks in the woods.

Since they moved into this house, Ruslan would frequently wake up at night, feeling as if the house was empty and he was alone. He would stand up and go check his daughter's room, each time finding her there, asleep. When he hugged her, she often felt cold as ice, almost lifeless. He would cover her with another blanket, leaning close to her and whispering in her ear, "My snow princess."

Time passed, and two months later, his efforts to see his son finally paid off. Ruslan and his daughter were going to visit them in a neighboring city. They quickly packed in the morning and set off. Roadworks at the city exit caused them to get stuck in a traffic jam. They had been stuck for about twenty minutes near a mosque when Karina suddenly began to cry and shake. She begged her father to find a way around the jam. Ruslan couldn't understand what was happening to her.

"Karina, what's wrong? Is something bothering you?" Ruslan nervously asked.

"Dad, I feel uneasy. I'm shaking, and my head is spinning. We've been stuck here for twenty minutes. Can we get around the jam?"

"Of course, sweetie."

Breaking traffic rules, Ruslan drove on the oncoming lane and bypassed the jam. Karina was relieved and started to feel better. Ruslan himself had a headache from the car horns and the noise of the roadworks.

They drove onto the intercity highway and, 2 hours later, around noon, approached the outskirts of the city. He drove up to the house where his son and ex-wife lived.

"Dad, Dad's here!" Albert ran out to meet them. Ruslan lifted his son and hugged him tightly. Karina approached, hugged Albert, and kissed him on the cheek. It was clear that the children had missed each other; they immediately started chatting like crazy. The three of them went into the house, where they were greeted by Adele. Ruslan greeted her back. His ex-wife suggested they go into the kitchen to have lunch. During lunch, Adele suggested they all take a trip to an amusement park. However, the children didn't support the idea; they wanted to stay home, play in the backyard, and swim in the pool. The adults were okay with their choice.

"Ruslan, I've noticed that our children have changed after the river incident. Albert now prefers solitude, and apart from me, he doesn't need anyone anymore. He asks me not to accompany him to school; he goes there alone now, good thing the school is nearby. As you can see, we live on the outskirts of the city. Your son was the one who asked for this house he wanted it to have a big backyard."

"Our children are quite similar. Karina also chose a house on the edge of the forest. I think the river incident and the divorce have greatly affected them. They need time, it heals all wounds."

"Yes, I agree with you. Our children need to see each other more often."

"I suggest next time you come to us. We have a beautiful pine forest in our backyard. We should have a picnic there with the children."

"Great idea, and I fully support it. The children would love it."

The day was sunny and hot. Albert and Karina were happily splashing in the shallow pool. The parents sat at a wooden table next to the pool, silently watching the children. Under the scorching midday sun, Ruslan's eyelids grew heavy, and he closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep.

He had quite an unusual dream. Ruslan was driving Albert to school in his car. Looking in the rearview, he saw him split into two. One was laughing, talking to Ruslan. The other was silent, writing something on the fogged-up window with his finger. Ruslan looked back again and saw that the second Albert had written "we miss you" on the car window.

"Dad, don't pay attention to him. He's always silent. Sometimes he cries," the first Albert told him.

"But why are there two of you? I don't get it," Ruslan asked.

"He appeared recently. I've tried to get rid of him several times, but he just won't go away."

"Dad, I miss you," the second Albert whispered and disappeared.

"Now he's gone. I don't know when he'll appear again. Never mind him," the first Albert continued, excitedly recounting his day at school. The dream was interrupted by loud music. The children had decided to dance.

"What was that dream about? What could it mean? Everything felt so real, so vivid," Ruslan mused, still under the dream's spell.

"Daddy, come dance with us!" his daughter called.

They danced together as a family, just like the old times, swaying to the lively rhythm of a Latin American song. To an outsider, it would have seemed as if there had never been any separation, as if their family harmony still thrived. Without realizing it, Adele found herself in Ruslan's arms, but quickly regained her composure. The absence of mutual attraction and the fading chemistry after their divorce reminded her that all she felt for him now was respect and gratitude for the years they had shared. She stepped away to hug their dancing children. Ruslan gazed up and saw the sun setting beyond the horizon with its last rays painting the sky in orange. "How did I never notice such beautiful sunsets before?" he wondered. Together, they all went inside. It was clear the children had missed each other, and after a day filled with joy, they fell asleep in each other's arms. Adele prepared the couch for Ruslan in the living room. As soon as he lay down, he sank into a deep, restful sleep.

The morning sun pierced his eyes as Ruslan's car sped along the road home.

They arrived home almost at evening. Ruslan ordered food from a Chinese restaurant over the phone, and within an hour, they had two portions of fried Chinese noodles delivered. Exhausted from the trip and satisfied with the spicy meal they had, they fell asleep early that day. Later at night, Ruslan had a terrifying, insane dream. In that dream, he woke up at the middle of the night, his body covered in cold sweat. He went into his daughter's room. He approached her, bent down, and hugged her. She wasn't breathing; he realized she was dead. She emitted a sweet, nauseating smell of decay. He began shaking her and yelled: "You're not my daughter, who are you?" Suddenly, she opened her eyes: "Dad, we haven't gone for a walk in a long time, let's go to the park tomorrow." As she finished her sentence, her body crumbled into dust.

"What a horrible dream!" Ruslan felt afraid, shattered, upon waking up in the morning. His first instinct was to head to his daughter's room. He knocked on the door and heard her say he could come in. Karina was sitting on her bed, tear-streaked and frightened.

"Dad, what's happening to you? I'm worried about you," Karina sighed sadly. She was visibly upset.

"What happened?"

"Don't you remember? There were screams coming from your room at night. I woke up and went there, to check. You were standing by the bed, yelling, 'You're not my daughter, who are you,' then you grabbed a pillow, threw it on the floor, and started stomping on it. I got really scared and ran back to my room."

"What's wrong with me? I don't remember; I thought that was a dream. I need to continue taking my memory meds."

Ruslan looked confused. The events of the night had actually happened, but the dream was his imagination, Ruslan concluded. "But in my dream, everything happened differently than Karina described. Are these events being painted by my own mind, or is my subconscious confusing me? That's the question. I need to sort myself out. These realistic, strange and eerie dreams make me think there might be some supernatural forces at play. Or am I just being overly dramatic?" Ruslan pondered. Ultimately, he concluded that his primary task was to address his memory disorder and to make sure he didn't miss his medication.

Another visit to his doctor and the new stronger pills he prescribed eventually helped Ruslan move past and forget those frightening episodes.

Lately, Karina has been often going out for walks in the forest. She usually took a basket with snacks and a blanket. Ruslan always warned her not to go too far. He was afraid she might get lost and be unable to find her way back home.

It was a great sunny day, close to noon. Occasionally, sparse clouds would cover the sun briefly, casting shadows on the backyard. Ruslan sat there, in a rocking chair, finishing the last pages of an interesting book he was reading. The book was finished, he turned the last page.

Karina had left for a walk in the forest early that morning. "What is my daughter doing in the forest?" Ruslan thought. He decided to go for a walk in the woods, to follow his daughter. A narrow path led from the house to the pine forest. Ruslan entered the forest, and before him appeared another path, it was well-trodden, lit by the midday sun. The path led to a flower field. Ruslan was amazed by the scenery; a beautiful landscape unfolded before his eyes. It was as if he was looking at a work of art, drawn by an artist, painted with colorful hues. The smells and flavors coming from the flowers and shrubs reminded him of the forgotten sensations he had experienced in his childhood when picking berries in the village. But time doesn't stop; the childhood is gone, leaving only nostalgia for those times.

"Now I understand my daughter; how can one resist taking walks through a field filled with fragrant wildflowers? This is such a pleasure!" Ruslan told himself. But the beauty of this field was marred by a cemetery located at the center of the field. A few meters from the cemetery, sitting on a blanket, wearing a large-brimmed summer hat, was Karina. Ruslan thought he saw his daughter talking to someone invisible in an unknown language. She was sitting with her back to him and didn't see him approaching. She suddenly turned her head and stopped talking. She stood up and said:

"Dad, what a surprise! Now you understand why I often disappear into the forest. A beautiful field this is, don't you agree?"

"Absolutely, Karina. Were you talking to someone, or did I imagine it?"

"Come on, Dad, I was just reciting phrases in Latin and saying them to myself. I was doing my homework."

"And you're brave, sitting just a few meters from the graves."

"Why should I be afraid? I don't believe in the existence of ghosts of dead people; it's all fiction."

"Oh, I wouldn't want to be here at night, among the graves. Creepy! Karina, are you hungry? I made chicken soup this morning. It turned out great."

"Yes, I am. I'll pack up the blanket, and we shall head home."

Taking his daughter's hand, Ruslan went back home.

The school year was coming to an end. Karina was totally preoccupied with preparing for her finals. Only her father's reminders about meals made her leave her room for a while. Ruslan, flipping through the pages of his daughter's school journal, felt pride for his daughter and shame for himself. He had never been to her school and had no idea who her class teacher was. "I must go to her award ceremony and meet her teacher," Ruslan told himself. Karina came out of her room and quickly went to the kitchen. Passing through the living room, she saw her father sitting on the couch. She stopped and asked:

"Dad, do we have anything to eat?"

"I ordered us a pizza; it should be here soon. Karina, sit with me for a bit. We need to talk," Ruslan said, raising his hand to invite his daughter to sit on the couch.

"I see how you're preparing for the exams, and I'm sure you'll ace them. Every year you receive a commendation, and I miss this important event in your life. I want to make it up to you; this year, I'll come to the ceremony and see this event with my own eyes."

"Dad, why do you want to go to this boring ceremony? It will be over before you know it. They'll hand out the certificates in just thirty minutes."

"Who is your class teacher? Let me at least meet her and thank her for her hard work and her contribution to my daughter's upbringing."

"My teacher, Sophia, is an old, boring lady. Moreover, she's very shy. I suggest inviting her over for a cup of coffee. We can sit in a more relaxed environment and you can thank her. How about that?"

"Great idea. You've convinced me; let's invite her over. This time, I'll skip the ceremony, but next year, you'll see me there, sitting in the front row."

"I have no doubt, Dad. With your determination, I'll definitely see you in the front row, but we still have to make it to next year," Karina laughed out loud.

"Don't worry, I'll live to see that, for sure" Ruslan laughed in response, joining his daughter's joke.

There was a knock at the door; the pizza delivery man stood at the doorstep. Ruslan paid him, and the delivery man handed him the hot pizza box. Within a minute, the box of pizza was on the kitchen table, enticing with the delicious smell of meat and sweet aroma of melted cheese. Ruslan and his daughter sat down at the table and began devouring the pizza.

The significant day in Karina's life had finally arrived. A day before, Ruslan bought a beautiful bouquet of white peonies for her class teacher. Karina was getting ready for the ceremony early in the morning, Ruslan was making them sandwiches for breakfast. They quickly ate their hot sandwiches. The door opened, and Karina, holding the bouquet, ran out and headed towards the waiting taxi.

After the school event ended, Karina and her teacher came home for a cup of coffee. The front door opened, and they were greeted by Ruslan. He extended his hand to Sophia and introduced himself; she introduced herself in return. The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the living room. Ruslan poured everyone some coffee.

"Why go through such trouble? We could have just met at the school event," Sophia said softly.

"I don't think it's too much trouble. I've long wanted to get to know Karina's class teacher better and express my gratitude."

The three of them sat at the table, Ruslan sitting across from Sophia. He was struck by a sharp, unpleasant odor. The repelling smell came from the teacher. "Strange woman, dressed very old-fashioned and, judging by the smell, hasn't bathed in a long time," Ruslan thought. But he overcame his initial reaction, not paying attention to the smell, and to avoid embarrassing the guest, he didn't show it.

Sophia had a few cups of coffee enjoying it. Engaged in an interesting conversation, they didn't notice how quickly the evening had arrived. The sun was setting outside the window. The guest took the bouquet, said goodbye to Karina and Ruslan, and left. She got into a taxi, and the sound of the departing car broke the silence to which the father and daughter were accustomed.

Days and months passed. Nothing foretold trouble. But one night turned Ruslan's life upside down. A great tragedy struck Ruslan and his daughter. Close to midnight, he received a call from the hospital with terrible news. On the other end of the line, a doctor, with a tremor in her voice, informed him that they had fought for their lives until the end, but unfortunately, Adele and Albert had passed away in the hospital's intensive care unit. The cause of their death was a car accident that had occurred the previous evening. As Ruslan later learned, Adele had lost control of the car on a slippery road, veered into an oncoming lane, and collided with a large truck.

"How could this happen? My son was just beginning to live his life. He was so young. How will we go on?" Tears streamed down Ruslan's face, reddened from the shock. His head ached, and his blood pressure rose. Holding his head, he began to pull his hair and sob. How much time had passed, he couldn't remember. After calming down a bit, the first thought that appeared in Ruslan's mind was how to tell Karina. He decided to tell her everything as it was. He approached his daughter, woke her up, and in an agitated voice, delivered the terrible news. Karina's reaction surprised him. He expected her to throw a tantrum, to cry and sob loudly. However, Karina was very quiet with her cries and hugged him. He thought she was in shock and that the realization of the tragedy would come to her later.

They quickly packed and drove to the neighboring city. Just at dawn, they arrived at the hospital. The next few days were all about arranging the funerals. How would he survive the irreparable loss of his loved ones? Where would he find the strength to overcome his personal drama? His heart ached as if cats were scratching it, and his soul was weighed down by a heavy stone, a wound that wouldn't heal, and an unending sorrow.

"Karina, we are now orphans. My mission now is to protect your life."

"Dad, we'll get through this together."

The sky was overcast, and it began to rain lightly. Ruslan opened an umbrella, and hugging Karina, they silently stood by the graves of their loved ones. Against the gray backdrop, the figures of the two people gradually faded into the darkness as night fell.

A whole year passed; time heals sorrow and grief. Ruslan and Karina, as in the old days, spent their leisure time joyfully in the backyard. Karina splashed cheerfully in the pool, while Ruslan, sitting in his rocking chair, finished reading another crime fiction. They lived in seclusion, and they were quite comfortable in each other's company. The sun was setting, and another day was coming to an end. Ruslan's phone rang. He picked up the receiver:

"Ruslan, my dear, how are you? Do you recognize me?" came the question.

"To be honest, I don't."

"Have you forgotten your classmate and neighbor with whom you shared a room in the student dormitory for five years?"

"Jaq, is that you? Now I recognized you, my old friend. It's been a long time."

"I'm going for a business trip. I'll be in your city for a few days. Do you mind meeting your friend?" Jaq asked.

"When you arrive here, give me a call. I'd be happy to meet you, my friend."

The unexpected call from his old friend, although a bit unsettling, brought Ruslan some joy. The arrival of his former classmate would add some flavor to bland routine of his life.

Autumn took hold. Fallen leaves carpeted the square in front of the railway station in a yellow blanket. An old janitor was slowly sweeping the fallen leaves early in the morning. From the morning train arriving at the station, a man in a gray coat and carrying a suitcase stepped onto the platform. He hailed a taxi at the station's main entrance and headed towards the city center.

"Greetings Ruslan. As I mentioned, I've arrived. I'm staying at a small hotel in the city center."

"Welcome, Jaq. How was your trip?"

"I didn't get much sleep. The train noise kept me awake. I'll rest, gather my strength, and be ready to meet you."

"I'll be at work in the morning; we can meet during my lunch break. I'll meet you here, and we can decide where to have lunch," Ruslan concluded the phone conversation.

The clock hands approached one o'clock in the afternoon. Ruslan was putting the finishing touches on the quarterly report. No sooner had five minutes passed than the whole office, as if on cue, headed towards the cafeteria. Ruslan put the report aside and headed out of his office. He went down to the parking lot on the lower level, got into his car, and drove to the city center.

He took a parking spot near the hotel, got out of the car, and headed to the main entrance. In the hotel lobby, comfortably seated on a couch, Jaq was reading a business magazine. Seeing Ruslan approaching, Jaq put the unfinished magazine aside, stood up from the couch, and made a step towards his friend. They both shook hands and hugged. After a brief conversation, they went outside. They crossed the street and headed to a small Italian restaurant.

"Ruslan, how are you? How's work?" Jaq asked, sitting at the table.

"I'm slowly getting back on track. Everything is going as it should."

"It must have been tough for you. Life is unpredictable. You can't write your own script. I'm glad you found the strength to overcome the family tragedy."

"Thank you for your support. Time heals all wounds."

"My project is quite extensive; I might stay here for two weeks maybe."

"I invite you to my place. We'll sit, reminisce about our student days over a glass of Irish whiskey."

"Thank you for the invitation. Once I finish my tasks, I'll definitely come to visit you."

After finishing their meal, they stood up from the table and went outside. Jaq offered his friend a cigarette, but Ruslan declined, having quit smoking a year ago. Jaq nodded in response and didn't ask when Ruslan had stopped smoking. While Jaq was finishing his cigarette, they remained silent.

"Jaq, I have to get back to work, duty calls. If you have time, take a walk; there's a wonderful park with a Japanese garden nearby. Well, I've got to run," Ruslan said, shaking his friend's hand before heading quickly toward his car. Jaq had a whole hour of free time and, following his old friend's advice, walked leisurely in the direction of the park.

The workweek was ending, and on Friday, close to six in the evening, Ruslan gathered the documents from his desk and placed them in a neat pile on the top shelf of a nearby cabinet. His mobile phone rang, and Ruslan picked it up to see who was calling. His face lit up with a smile, revealing the identity of the caller.

"Yes, I'm listening, my princess!"

"Dad, I wanted to ask for your permission. It's my friend's birthday today. I'm going to her place and will stay overnight. Her parents will bring me home tomorrow morning. You're meeting your friend at our place tonight, right? I won't be in the way or bother you. Agreed?"

"I'll let you go this time, but please, next time, let me know in advance. I worry about you."

"I understand, Dad. I completely agree with you. I know you're concerned about me, your only daughter."

Ruslan called Jaq, and they agreed to meet at eight in the evening. He ordered all the food for dinner from a Chinese restaurant and waited for it to be delivered. Ruslan went down to the basement and took a bottle of Irish whiskey from a wooden crate. As he was climbing the stairs, he heard the doorbell ring and assumed it was the food delivery. Opening the door, he was surprised to see Jaq arriving earlier than expected.

"I don't like being late, and this time I had really outdone myself, arriving a whole thirty minutes early," Jaq smiled.

"Come in, my friend. Ah, and here's the food delivery. Make yourself at home," Ruslan said, welcoming his guest and then stepping outside to pay for the food delivery. He returned with bags of food.

The sound of the whiskey bottle being opened, the noise of two glasses being filled, and the rising steam from the food signaled the start of their evening meal.

"So, tell me, my friend, how are you? What have you been up to?" Jaq asked.

"As you can see, I live on the edge of the forest. Every morning, the scents of wildflowers brought by the wind invigorate and energize me for the whole day. Especially for my daughter, walks in the forest are a solace," Ruslan smiled.

"I don't understand, what daughter?" Jaq's face changed, and he turned pale.

"What do you mean, Jaq? After the death of my son and ex-wife in a car accident, my beloved daughter is my closest and dearest person. My whole life is now dedicated to her, and I live only for her."

Jaq looked haggard, with a lost expression. He finished his glass of whiskey. After a pause, he turned to Ruslan:

"She has appeared again! Please, Ruslan, strain your memory. You must remember all the events that have happened to you over the past three years. You're having memory lapses again."

Ruslan was completely in the dark about why he needed to recall all the events. His head ached from the tension.

"I don't understand you. Explain why she has appeared again? What's going on?" Ruslan asked, looking at him questioningly.

"Ruslan, I know it will be hard and painful for you to hear what I'm about to tell you, but I'll recount the events that happened to you over the past three years. You've experienced a great personal tragedy. As unfortunate as it is, we all lose someone eventually, and the loss of close and loved ones all leave indelible scars and a deep wounds in the soul. A terrible tragedy occurred at the river three years ago. Your children were swept away by the current and drowned. You tried to save them, but nearly drowned yourself. The next day, divers retrieved their bodies. Adele had a nervous breakdown; she blamed you for the children's deaths. After the children's funeral, you got divorced. You began seeing your deceased daughter frequently after the grief. After two months in a rehabilitation clinic, your condition had improved, and your daughter stopped haunting you. At that time, I was by your side. But circumstances led me to accept a well-paying job in another country, and I had to leave. I lost touch with you. Two years later, another tragedy struck: Adele died in a car accident. I learned about this news through our mutual friends."

"I don't believe you. I talked to my daughter on the phone just a couple of hours ago. I'll call her now, and you'll see that she's alive!" Ruslan grabbed his mobile phone and, to his horror, discovered that his daughter's number was missing from the contacts. How could that be? He remembered her number by heart and started dialing it frantically. On the other end, an automated voice informed him: "The number you have dialed does not exist."

"See, she doesn't exist. But why is the ghost of your daughter haunting you again? Could you be having visual hallucinations?"

"How can I accept this reality? Just this morning, we were cleaning her room together," Ruslan couldn't grasp it.

"Ruslan, let's check her room," Jaq suggested. Ruslan nodded silently.

They both went upstairs to Karina's room. The entire room was covered in dust, with only a dilapidated wooden bed and a few wicker chairs by the window. Ruslan sat on one of them, covering his face with his hands and becoming silent. Ruslan was in a state of shock, covered in cold sweat, and his heart was pounding. Vivid moments spent with his daughter flashed through his mind, along with the strange and eerie dreams that had plagued him over the years. Everything mixed together in his head. "There's definitely something supernatural at work here," Ruslan was convinced. Memories of Karina shaking when they were stuck in traffic near the mosque and how she vomited a couple of times when they passed by a church came to mind. That's why she could wander around the cemetery late at night, and he thought his daughter was fearless and brave, not believing in ghost stories. How skillfully she had deceived him, planting a fabricated reality in his consciousness.

"Now you're convinced, my old friend. I have a good acquaintance who's a psychiatrist and has his own clinic. Go pay him a visit; I think he could help you," Jaq handed him the psychiatrist's business card.

Ruslan felt as if he had been doused with ice water. Jaq patted him on the shoulder to encourage his friend.

"Don't worry, my friend, you're strong. I'm sure you'll get through this."

They went downstairs, and Ruslan's state clearly indicated that he was broken and shattered. They sat at the table, and Jaq poured him a glass of whiskey. Ruslan wanted to escape reality and began downing whiskey glass after glass. Ruslan didn't remember how Jaq left. He spent the entire weekend in bed, recalling and analyzing everything that had happened to him over the past three years. Straining his brain, he couldn't separate real events from fabricated ones. Doubt crept into his soul, questioning whether Jaq's visit was also a trick of dark forces, an imagined reality planted in his mind. He wanted to test his theory and dialed his friend's mobile number. Jaq reassured him and told him that he intended to visit him in a few days.

On Monday, Ruslan went to work, and his colleagues noticed that he looked tired and worn out. He first went to the department head's office and signed his leave request. Leaving work, he decided to visit the school where his supposed daughter studied. He was told that Karina had never attended that school, and there was no teacher named Sophia.

Ruslan returned home and looked around before entering the front door. A lonely house with no one nearby. The nearest houses were two kilometers away. He decided to take a walk in the forest and slowly headed towards it. Entering a clearing, he suddenly heard a child's voice coming from the direction of the cemetery. He began approaching but saw no one. Suddenly he froze, feeling someone slowly approaching from behind. He turned sharply and saw Karina standing in front of him.

"Dad, did you lose me?" she smiled.

"Do you think I'm afraid of you? Who are you?" Ruslan asked.

"You figured it out. If it wasn't for your friend, I would have achieved my goal. You got lucky, Dad," she said with a smirk.

"Since we've met, I'll tell you about my true identity. We are called black fairies. We are the daughters of the devil. Currently, more than a thousand of my sisters around the world are carrying out the tasks of the lord of darkness. We have one mission: to drive our victims to suicide. We choose people who are grieving and have lost loved ones. They're easy to drive to suicide. At will, we can take any form. I chose the form of your deceased daughter. Only you can see me; to others, I'm invisible. Although if I want, others can see me too. Like with Adele, remember when we visited her home over a year ago? My sister did a great job with your ex-wife in the form of your late son. It was she who, in the guise of your son, asked her to veer into an oncoming lane, leading her to certain death. Remember our meeting with my supposed teacher? I found her here at the cemetery, and my diligence and persistence helped me revive her. It was a struggle since she had been buried just a few days earlier. I erased her memory and implanted new information in her mind. I was lucky she had worked as a teacher in a rural school all her life. It was hard to hide her corpse smell; when you covered your nose, I thought you might figure it out, but you didn't show it. Humanity is degenerating; you humans are losing your grip. I managed to deceive you for three whole years with cunning tricks. I regret playing the role of your daughter too well, getting carried away with it. I should have ended things with you two years ago. I was so close, just a little more time, and we would have walked into the abyss hand in hand with demons. Goodbye, Dad. I'll miss you," she finished with a loud laugh.

Her laughter infuriated Ruslan. He wanted to strike her face, but his hand passed through her head. She laughed even louder. Suddenly, the laughter stopped, and she disappeared.

Ruslan stood in shock, unable to regain his composure. An incoming call on his mobile phone brought him back to reality.

"Ruslan, are you home? I've finished my business and I am leaving today. I want to stop by before I go."

"Come over, Jaq, I'm home," Ruslan replied quietly.

It was the thirtieth day of rehabilitation at a private psychiatric clinic. Ruslan was beginning to recover from the trauma, and his condition had improved. From the first day of rehabilitation, he had been striving to find inner peace, and each day spent at the clinic brought him closer to this crucial goal. Breathing in the fresh air deeply, Ruslan enjoyed the morning sunshine on his walk in the park with pine trees. As he walked past a fence, he heard a children's song that Karina used to sing. He approached the fence, and there stood the ghost of his deceased daughter. Ruslan stopped in his tracks.

"What do you want from me? Leave me alone, deceiver!" he shouted at her.

"Dad, don't you recognize me? I miss you so much! Please come with me."

"I don't believe you. Go away and don't disturb me!" Ruslan barked at her.

"You see me, don't you? Here I am," she approached and extended her hand through a round opening in the fence.

Ruslan was in turmoil, doubts gnawing at his soul. Maybe she really was standing in front of him. Flooded with memories of his daughter, the happy moments they had shared, he was compelled to approach the fence. He took her hand and felt its warmth. He was astonished; how could this be possible? Ruslan began to convince himself that she didn't exist and that this was all work of the black fairy. An inner voice urged, "She's not your daughter, step away from her." He abruptly pulled back from the fence and rubbed his eyes. She didn't disappear.

"You spawn of hell, go back to your world. My daughter has been dead for a long time."

"Dad, I'm not alone there. Mom and Albert are with me. We're all waiting for you. Don't you want to be reunited with us? Mom forgave you a long time ago. Don't you miss your son?"

Ruslan remembered Albert and realized how much he missed him. These words reopened his emotional wounds. He no longer listened to the voice of reason; the voice of his heart took over. He jumped over the fence and approached his daughter. When he hugged her, he confirmed that she was alive and well.

"Forgive me, Karina. Now I believe you. You don't know how much I've missed you all."

"Dad, when you enter the afterlife, our family will be whole again, and we'll be together forever."

The sun was already high in the sky and beginning to burn. Talking loudly and cheerfully with someone not visible, a man in gray sportswear emerged from the forest. After a few steps, he turned left and walked down a path towards a high coastal cliff.

After burying her husband and children following the terrible accident, a woman in black attire left the cemetery and, dragging her feet, walked towards the parking lot. She got into her car and began backing out of the parking spot. As she did, she looked in the rearview mirror and froze: her deceased husband was sitting in the back seat. She turned around sharply, but there was no one there. This was a sign that the black fairy had found a new victim and was back in business. But that's another story.