Year 6 - Round 2 - Spring - Loth - Part One
Spring arrived gently at Loft home, carrying the scent of fresh soil and possibility through the open windows. Katerina stood in her tiny front garden with a packet of flower seeds tucked beneath one arm, her fingers already stained with dirt as she planned where each bloom would go. Life felt lighter now.
The lottery win had changed things, of course. Not enough to make her extravagant, but enough to give her breathing room. Enough to buy this little downtown house she adored, nestled within walking distance of the comedy club where she spent her evenings amongst friends.
It was more than enough to leave behind the life she'd shared with Nate Pleasant.
The divorce had been painful, but standing beneath the spring sunshine, planting flowers that belonged entirely to her, Katerina couldn't help feeling hopeful. Still, there was one thing she loved far more than her new freedom.
Crystal. Today was her birthday. The little girl spun through the house with all the excitement of a firework, growing into a child before Katerina's eyes. Her room was already scattered with sketchbooks and crayons, and she proudly announced that she couldn't wait to start school.
"So I can make art like you, Mommy." Katerina laughed, pulling her into a tight hug.
"I think you'll be even better."
Crystal beamed. For a moment, the tiny house felt full to bursting.
That afternoon, Robbie Sartor stopped by for his booked massage, the lottery money wouldn't last forever and the club was still finding its feet.
He greeted Katerina with a grin and a kiss that lingered just long enough to stir old feelings. She smiled against his lips before noticing something glittering on his hand.
An engagement ring. The realization hit a beat too late. Robbie followed her gaze and awkwardness flickered across his face.
Still, they settled into familiar routines. Katerina began work, her hands working carefully across tense shoulders while they chatted about ordinary things. Nothing more happened. Nothing could. Not anymore. And maybe that was good...
Meanwhile, Crystal sat cross-legged on her bedroom floor, entirely absorbed in a toy rocket ship, launching imaginary expeditions to distant galaxies while making enthusiastic engine noises.
After Robbie left, Katerina changed into workout clothes and threw herself into an intense exercise session. Her muscles burned. Sweat dampened her hairline. But the restlessness inside her refused to disappear.
As she ran, a thought she didn't particularly want surfaced anyway.
Maybe marriage hadn't been the problem. Maybe it had simply been who she'd married. The idea lingered long after the workout ended.
That night, Crystal slept soundly, in her dreams, dolphins leapt through silver waves. Giant turtles drifted beneath turquoise oceans. Schools of brightly coloured fish swirled around her like living rainbows.
When morning came, she padded sleepily into the kitchen while Katerina made breakfast.
"Mum?"
Katerina looked up. "Yeah, sweetheart?"
Crystal climbed onto a chair.
"Are we best friends?" The question was so earnest that Katerina immediately smiled.
"Of course we are." Crystal seemed relieved.
Then she asked, "Can you come to school with me?" Katerina laughed softly.
"No, honey." Crystal's shoulders slumped. "But," Katerina continued, reaching over to squeeze her hand, "there's probably a new best friend waiting for you there."
The child considered this carefully. Then she smiled.
A moment later they were dancing around the kitchen to music from the radio, twirling between chairs and laughing until the bus came.
The maid arrived shortly before lunch. Rose. For months now, their relationship had existed in a strange, undefined space. Sometimes they dated. Sometimes they drifted apart. Then somehow they always found their way back to each other again. Today, Rose seemed unusually cheerful.
She hummed while cleaning and later started making burgers for after school, filling the kitchen with the smell of sizzling onions and grilled meat.
When classes ended, Crystal burst through the front door with a friend in tow. It was Trinnie Woodrow, Katerina recognised the surname but couldn't place it.
The two girls barely paused long enough to say hello before racing outside together.
Their laughter echoed across the neighbourhood as they chased each other through the yard.
Inside, Rose dried her hands on a towel.
"Katerina?" Something in her voice made Katerina look up. Rose was nervous. Before Katerina could ask why, Rose reached into her pocket. The room seemed to stop. A ring.
For one suspended heartbeat, neither woman moved. Then Rose asked, Katerina's stomach dropped. Because she cared for Rose... she wanted to say yes. But she couldn't. Not after Nate.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. Rose's face crumpled. The silence afterward felt unbearable. Rose left before the burgers had even cooled and told her the relationship was over. Completely.
Katerina stood alone in the kitchen staring at the untouched food and felt her heart breaking all over again. Not because she didn't love Rose. But because she was terrified of becoming someone's wife again.
Trinnie stayed late while Katerina hid her emtions from her daughter, Trinnie talked. Mostly about robbers. About handcuffs and crime. About how frightening it had been when her family had been robbed recently. The stories came out matter-of-factly, as though she'd repeated them so many times they no longer felt scary.
Katerina listened quietly.
She noticed how worn Trinnie's shoes were. Crystal listened with wide eyes, utterly fascinated. By the time Trinnie's dad arrived to take her home, darkness had settled outside the windows.
After the door closed behind her guest, Katerina turned toward Crystal.
"Want to do something fun?"
Crystal nodded immediately.
An hour later, both of them were standing in front of the mirror.
Katerina had given them makeovers. Crystal giggled while examining her reflection.
Katerina's own hair looked different now too. The tips were dyed bright pink, a splash of colour. Perhaps not coincidentally, the shade looked remarkably similar to Rose's hair. Katerina told herself it wasn't intentional. The small ache in her chest suggested otherwise.
The next morning dawned clear and warm. Katerina settled onto the front porch with a book, enjoying the quiet. Birds chirped in the flowerbeds she'd planted days earlier. Crystal was inside getting ready for school.
For the first time in weeks, everything felt still. A maid eventually appeared at the gate. Katerina looked up automatically, expecting familiar pink hair.
Expecting Rose.
But the woman walking toward the house was a stranger. It wasn't Rose. Not anymore.
Katerina watched her approach and felt the reality settle over her like a final curtain. Some chapters ended all at once.
Others ended quietly. This one, apparently, was both. But then she picked up the phone...
End of Part One.













