Sasha turned around and her heart nearly burst at the sight of him. He was tall, broad, and muscular in a way that somehow seemed comforting and not scary. His mop of curly brown hair, lopsided smile, and round, prominent jaw line were all exactly as she remembered from their dozens of chat sessions. He wore olive-green fatigues that looked stained and burned in a few places. His hair was greasy, and there were great big bags under his eyes. But he was here. He was real.

She collapsed into him. Before she realized it, she’d started to sob.

“I love you I love you I love you I thought you were dead I love you!”

He hesitated for several long beats before he returned her embrace. But he returned it with gusto. His hands crept down, from her sides to her buttocks. He squeezed her. It was a gesture she’d fantasized about several times in her weaker, more carnal moments. It was not something she’d expected a Godly man like Alexander to do out in public, surrounded by people, in the immediate aftermath of an execution.

Sasha pulled back and coughed in surprise. She didn’t say anything though. She didn’t want to mar their first meeting with that. And she also remembered something Pastor Mike had written in Revelator, that the “beastly nature of a man must be salved by the goodness of women.” Alexander had just spent several days up at the front. He must have seen terrible things. It was understandable that his self control would not be at its peak right now.

Still. She didn’t like the way he looked her up and down. There was something of the wolf in his eyes. It was not the look she’d dreamed of seeing. But then he spoke.

“Sasha. I’m so proud of you. I didn’t know if I’d ever see you here. I wasn’t sure if you’d be willing to truly commit yourself to our Lord. But I prayed that you would and now, by the Grace of God, you’re here. And you’re even more beautiful than you looked online.”

Sasha blushed. How could she not?

“Look,” he waved a hand toward the gallows, and the bodies, “things are still sort of a mess around here. But I know one cafe nearby is up and running again. I’ve got enough ration tokens to get us both a cup of coffee. What would you say to that?”