“She lives in the neighboring village,” the woman said softly. “If you want, I can take you there.”
Nikolai didn’t hesitate. His heart was pounding with a mixture of hope and fear as they drove along winding mountain roads, the village slowly coming into view. When they arrived, the air was crisp and quiet, a world away from the life he once knew.
They stopped at a small wooden house. Nikolai’s hands trembled as he knocked on the door. It opened slowly, and there stood Lena — older, but unmistakably his daughter. Her eyes were filled with tears and regret.
“I’m sorry I left,” she whispered. “I wanted to protect you… but I was trapped.”
Nikolai stepped forward, tears streaming down his face. “We never stopped looking for you. You have a son? I want to meet him.”
Lena nodded. “Artyom is inside.”
For the first time in 22 years, a broken family began to heal. The long nightmare was over — but a new chapter, full of love, forgiveness, and hope, was just beginning.
