When someone knocked on the door, Alina whimpered and Kolya jumped to his feet, but Mama’s calm voice quieted everyone.
“It’s probably cousin Vasyl, the priest. For the wedding, remember?”
Kolya dropped his head into his hands, and Katya sat up as Mama let Vasyl in and told him what had happened.
He closed his eyes, his lips moving in a silent prayer, then took Mama’s hands. “No one is safe. What’s become of our world?”
Nobody had an answer for him. Mama ushered him to a chair, and he glanced around the room as he went, pausing as he took in Pavlo’s bandages.
“Well, we have a funeral to work out, but I could still marry you today, if you wish.” He stroked his beard and considered each of them in turn.
“No!” Kolya jerked his head up. “Not today.”
Katya nodded in agreement. She didn’t want to marry today anymore either. She’d hadn’t even thought about the wedding until Vasyl arrived. How could she, after all that had happened? And with Tato gone?
“Don’t you think they should wait? It’s too soon after this tragedy,” Mama said. “And my husband would want to be here.”
“Normally, yes. Of course, nobody wants to rejoice so soon after such loss, but during these terrible times, I encourage young people to hold onto whatever happiness they can find, anytime they find it.” He glanced at Pavlo and Katya. “We can never know what tomorrow will bring.”
Alina stifled a cry, and Kolya took her hand. “I’m sorry. I can’t mix what should be the happiest day of my life with the most devastating. I need time. Maybe next week we can revisit it.”
“Of course,” Alina said. “We’ll wait.”
“Well, for the same reason we cannot have a large wedding, we cannot have a typical funeral,” Vasyl said. “Especially because of the way they were killed. They would be labeled enemies of the people, and anyone attending the funeral would be considered the same. It must be quiet and quick. We can have a short service in their home. At night would be best, and no one but immediate family should be included.”
Mama set out the traditional towels and glasses of water for Pavlo and Kolya’s parents to drink and wipe their tears away with in the time their souls lingered before the funeral. This was one of the few post-death rituals they would be able to do for them. When Mama had done it for Serhiy, it had brought Katya some comfort. Now, the seemingly paltry gesture made her angry.
“I’ll need help unloading the coffins and lowering them into the ground. They’re too long for me to handle myself.” Kolya picked at the fried salo and onions Mama had prepared for the wedding that now served as their funeral meal.
The fatty meat stuck in Katya’s throat, along with the tears she refused to let out.
“Maybe you could ask a neighbor to help?” Mama said.
“It’s best if we don’t involve anyone else in this,” Kolya said. “I couldn’t bear any more blood on my hands.”
“Your hands?” Katya stared at him in disbelief. “This is not your fault, Kolya. You must know that!”
“Maybe it’s not my fault, but I didn’t stop it. And nothing you can say will change that. I have to live with it.” He pushed back from the table and their meager dinner.
Pavlo grabbed his arm. “Kolya, you couldn’t have stopped this from happening. Don’t you know how happy it makes me that you stayed safe?”
Kolya pulled away from Pavlo and put on his coat. “I need to finish this.”
“Alina and I helped you make the coffins.” Katya stood and rested a hand on Pavlo’s shoulder to calm him. “We can help you dig the graves, too.”
“No. I’d like to do that myself.” Kolya kept his eyes trained on the ground. “I need to do this part alone.”
“Not alone,” Pavlo said. “I’ll come with you.”
“No!” Katya fought down the panic rising in her chest at the idea of Pavlo leaving her sight. “You’re not well enough to dig!”
“Maybe not, but I’ll not let my brother bear this burden alone. I won’t dig much, if you’ll forgive me that, Kolya, but I’ll be there with you.”
Kolya gave Pavlo a quick nod and left, slamming the door behind him.
Katya started to protest again, but Mama touched her arm. “Leave them, Katya. They mourn.”
Katya threw her hands in the air and sat back down. “Fine, I’ll do the chores here, and I’ll go take care of your animals, too. If I just sit here, I’ll go crazy.”