“Does it hurt?” Andrei let her go and she ran to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water. She opened the fridge, took out a slice of lemon and squeezed it into the glass. She thirstily gulped the water. There was a new pack of sleeping pills lying on the kitchen table. Maria picked it up, turned it over in her hands and put it back on the table. She went back to the bedroom. Andrei followed her every movement.

“Why aren’t you taking your medication?”

“Because they’re turning me into a vegetable. And those pills killed my baby.”

“What? What are you talking about? What have you been taking? And what do you mean ‘my baby’? Isn’t it mine too?”

“It’s our baby, you idiot! Anyway, none of it matters now. Maybe if you had been paying attention, you’d understand.”

She went to bed. Andrei sat beside her and lay his hand on her stomach over the blanket.

“If you came to bed at night, maybe you’d understand.”

She tensed and pulled away. He lay down, put his hand under the covers and tried to draw her toward him. She pushed his hand away and moved to the edge of the bed.

“I have a feeling something happened between us that evening. Something bad. I don’t remember. A horrible dream. Did you do something to me while I was asleep?”

Andrei shook his head.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant?”

“I didn’t know.”

He wanted to say something about the letter he found in her pocket, but he stroked her body instead. She placed a pillow between them as if using it as a shield. Andrei tugged at the covers, but again she pulled away.

“Please don’t touch me.” Her voice was firm and sharp.

“We can always try for another.”

“This isn’t your body. I’m not here for your attempts at child-making.”

“I’m your husband.”

“That doesn’t give you the right to do what you want. Look, I’m asking you nicely, leave me alone!”

She’d stepped on a mine. Andrei blew up.

“You?! You’re asking me nicely?!”

He furiously threw himself at her and grabbed her, trying to hold her small body still. She resisted.

She screamed. He squeezed her tighter.

“Why are you screaming? Cool it!”

She wrenched out of his grip, jumped out of the bed, and ran to the cupboard. Andrei didn’t understand what she was doing at first, but once he twigged, it was already too late. She had his pistol. Andrei propped himself up in bed on his elbow.

“Are you out of your fucking mind? Put it back right now!”

Maria leaned back against the cupboard door mirror, pointing the pistol right at Andrei’s face. She flicked off the safety catch.

“Are you out of your fucking mind?!” Andrei repeated, louder now.