The Final Day

Morning arrived beneath a pale winter sky.

The first thing Avika heard was the distant sound of traffic moving through the snow-covered streets.

She slowly opened her eyes.

For several seconds, she simply stared at the ceiling, her mind still caught somewhere between sleep and reality.

Then she remembered.

The forum.

Today was the second and final day.

Tomorrow morning, she would be leaving Moscow.

A small smile touched her lips.

"Finally."

She sat up and stretched, feeling the heaviness in her shoulders from yesterday.

The medical discussions had continued for hours, and although she had enjoyed them, her body was beginning to demand rest.

She glanced toward the window.

Snow was still falling.

Tiny flakes drifted past the glass, almost weightless against the pale morning sky.

Avika got out of bed and walked toward the window.

Moscow looked strangely peaceful from above.

The roads were covered in white.

Cars moved slowly through the streets.

People hurried along the sidewalks, wrapped in thick coats.

Nothing about the city suggested what had happened in that alley the previous night.

No sign of the men.

No sign of Valerian.

No sign that somewhere in this enormous city, someone had already begun looking into her life.

Avika's expression changed slightly.

For a moment, those gray eyes returned to her thoughts.

Cold.

Unmoving.

Observant.

She frowned.

"Why am I remembering him again?"

She immediately turned away from the window.

"Forget it."

Today was about medicine.

Nothing else.

---

After getting ready, Avika left the hotel.

The cold immediately greeted her.

She wrapped her scarf around her neck and started toward the forum venue.

The city was already awake.

Cars moved slowly over the snowy roads.

People hurried along the sidewalks with their coats pulled tightly around them.

A street vendor stood beneath a small shelter, steam rising from the cup in his hands.

Avika watched the scene for a moment.

Despite everything that had happened yesterday, she found herself enjoying the city.

It was unfamiliar.

Beautiful.

And strangely quiet.

She continued walking.

---

The second day of the forum was even more demanding than the first.

There were specialized discussions, difficult case studies, and several debates between experienced professionals.

Avika listened carefully.

She didn't speak simply to make herself noticed.

When she had something useful to say, she spoke.

When she didn't, she listened.

During one case discussion, a senior doctor presented a complicated medical situation.

Several people offered their opinions.

Avika remained quiet.

She studied the information again.

Something wasn't right.

Finally, she raised her hand.

"There's a problem with the timeline."

The room became quieter.

The doctor looked toward her.

"What problem?"

Avika pointed toward the information on the screen.

"If these symptoms appeared in this order, then the assumption you're making doesn't completely fit."

She explained her reasoning calmly.

The doctor listened.

When she finished, he looked back at the case.

Then at her.

A slow smile appeared.

"That's an interesting observation."

Avika simply nodded.

She wasn't looking for praise.

She had already forgotten about the conversation by the time the next presentation began.

But someone else had noticed.

A doctor sitting near the back of the room had been listening carefully.

He didn't approach her.

He simply remembered her name.

---

By late afternoon, the final session ended.

Applause filled the hall.

Avika closed her notebook.

For a moment, she didn't move.

Then she leaned back in her chair and breathed out.

"Done."

Two days.

She had completed everything she came for.

She packed her notes into her bag.

Tomorrow morning—

home.

---

Instead of returning directly to the hotel, Avika stopped at a small café nearby.

The warmth inside immediately surrounded her.

She chose a seat near the window.

Outside, snow continued falling.

A waiter placed her drink on the table.

Avika wrapped both hands around the cup.

The warmth felt good.

She pulled out her phone.

For the first time since arriving in Moscow, she allowed herself to behave like a tourist.

She photographed the snow-covered street.

A nearby building.

A streetlamp glowing against the evening sky.

A couple walking through the snow.

Then she noticed a narrow street disappearing into the distance.

She raised her phone.

Click.

She looked at the picture.

A faint smile appeared.

"Beautiful."

She took another.

For several minutes, she simply watched the city.

The chaos of the forum felt far away.

The alley felt even farther.

She wanted to remember Moscow like this.

Quiet.

Beautiful.

Safe.

Eventually, she checked the time.

"I should go."

Tomorrow's flight was early.

She had packing to finish.

---

By the time she returned to the hotel, it was already evening.

Avika placed her bag on the chair.

Then she looked at her suitcase.

She sighed.

"Let's get this over with."

She began packing.

Clothes were folded carefully.

Her medical documents went into a separate folder.

Her passport was checked.

Her flight ticket was checked twice.

The photographs from the day were backed up.

Her novel was placed safely into her handbag.

Finally, she closed the suitcase.

Avika looked around the room.

Everything was ready.

She sat on the edge of the bed.

Tomorrow she would wake up, go to the airport, and leave Moscow behind.

She smiled faintly.

"Good."

She changed into comfortable clothes and climbed into bed.

Her exhaustion caught up with her quickly.

Within minutes, she fell asleep.

---

11:47 PM.

Her phone rang.

Avika didn't wake.

It rang again.

She shifted beneath the blanket.

Again.

Finally, she opened her eyes.

She reached toward the bedside table.

"Hello?"

Her voice was heavy with sleep.

A man's voice answered.

"Dr. Avika?"

She frowned.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry for calling this late."

She looked at the clock.

11:47 PM.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Dr. Mikhail Petrov. I'm a physician at a private medical facility in Moscow."

Avika slowly sat up.

"How did you get my number?"

"Through the medical forum."

Her expression became cautious.

"Is this regarding something from today's forum?"

"No."

A pause.

"I'm calling because of a patient."

"What kind of patient?"

"A child."

Avika's eyes narrowed slightly.

"What about him?"

"I'd like to request your assistance."

She immediately shook her head despite knowing he couldn't see her.

"I'm sorry, but I can't."

The doctor fell silent.

"I leave tomorrow morning."

"I know."

"Then you understand."

"I do."

Avika was about to end the call.

"Please."

His voice stopped her.

"Just hear me out."

Avika remained silent.

"I wouldn't call you at midnight if this were an ordinary case."

Her brows furrowed.

"Then explain."

The doctor took a breath.

"I attended your presentation today."

"You did?"

"Yes."

"I was impressed by the way you analyzed the case."

Avika didn't respond.

"Your ability to notice details that others overlooked is precisely why I'm calling."

She remained skeptical.

"There are many talented doctors in Moscow."

"Yes."

"Some much more experienced than me."

"Yes."

"Then why me?"

The doctor hesitated.

That hesitation immediately caught her attention.

"Dr. Petrov?"

His voice became quieter.

"Because most doctors who were approached have refused."

Avika's expression changed.

"Why?"

"Because this case is dangerous."

The room suddenly felt quieter.

"How dangerous?"

The doctor didn't answer immediately.

Then he said:

"The child was kidnapped."

Avika's eyes hardened.

"When?"

"Recently."

"Was he rescued?"

"Yes."

"Then what happened?"

The doctor took a slow breath.

"He wasn't found in good condition."

Avika waited.

"He was badly mistreated."

Her fingers slowly tightened around the phone.

"What do you mean by badly?"

The doctor's voice became heavier.

"He has multiple bruises across his body. Some injuries are consistent with prolonged physical mistreatment."

Avika's expression changed.

"And psychologically?"

A pause.

"That's worse."

She looked toward the dark window.

The doctor continued.

"He barely speaks."

Avika swallowed.

"He doesn't trust anyone."

Another pause.

"And when someone tries to approach him, he becomes frightened."

Avika lowered her gaze.

"How old is he?"

"Young."

"Where are his parents?"

"They're abroad."

"Do they know what happened?"

"Yes."

"Are they returning?"

The silence answered for him.

Avika's expression hardened.

"So the child was kidnapped, severely mistreated, and his parents aren't even here."

"They have their reasons."

Avika's voice became colder.

"Maybe."

She didn't sound convinced.

The doctor continued.

"Dr. Avika, I know this is an enormous request."

"It is."

"I know you're leaving tomorrow."

"I am."

"And I know you have no obligation to help us."

Avika said nothing.

"But I wouldn't be begging you if we had another choice."

That word caught her attention.

Begging.

A professional doctor.

Calling a stranger at nearly midnight.

Begging her to see a child.

Something was clearly wrong.

Yet Avika still didn't agree.

"I need to think."

The doctor immediately answered.

"Of course."

"I won't promise anything."

"I understand."

"And don't cancel anything on my behalf."

"I won't."

Avika ended the call.

She placed the phone beside her.

The room became silent.

She looked at her suitcase.

Tomorrow morning.

Home.

She had already made her decision.

So why did her mind keep returning to the same image?

A child.

Alone.

Bruised.

Afraid.

Waiting for someone who hadn't come.

Avika closed her eyes.

"No."

She whispered.

"I can't get involved."

She lay back down.

But sleep didn't return.

Every time she closed her eyes, the doctor's words came back.

He doesn't trust anyone.

He was badly mistreated.

Most doctors refused.

Avika turned onto her side.

She stared at the clock.

12:18 AM.

She sighed.

"Why did he have to tell me all that?"

She knew exactly why.

Because now she couldn't simply pretend she hadn't heard.

But knowing that didn't mean she had to go.

At least...

that's what she kept telling herself.

to be continued...

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