welcome home
she takes the key in hand and inhales deeply. she holds tightly to lochie's lead and smiles down at him. "ready?"

there is thunder in our hearts
before there was so much clutter. with the move, the bulk of it goes to charity. she wants to live more simply, to not want so much. this is a good start. with tall ceilings and open space she has room to breathe -- room to grow in the light.

all the magic of creation
here, all things can thrive. the blossoms are enough to remind her that she can take care of life. it is therapeutic to bend her head and take in the scent of the flowers. she's not so scared of the future now.

creative suite
now that she has her own office space in the heart of the city, she only needs one computer screen at home. there is a distinction between work and play that she never had before. at her little desk, she can enjoy hobbies that she never had time for. thinking about her first photography project fills her with glee.

a view from the top
her music filters through the speakers of her computer and she gets the urge to dance. she slides across the floorboards in her favourite pair of socks and one of nico's t-shirts. she forgets about everything else going on in her head.

from russia, with love
the first time she models for him she's rosy cheeked and can't sit still. he tells her it will be a long time before he decides to show her the finished product*. her eyes well up when he surprises her with it on moving day, hanging it up in her bedroom. later, they make love.

* artwork credit - vita biryulina

are you not entertained?
anya's on her back, a star screwdriver in hand, fretting over the shelving. at a noise from the kitchen, she moves too quickly and almost smacks her head. she squeezes her eyes shut and her crown passes through, unaffected. it's the first time she realises she can short-circuit electrical equipment. the next morning, she's purchasing a replacement television.

these coupons never expire!
they spend an entire day at bed, bath and beyond. she is finally happy with the colour palette. she tells him she needs six of everything to be satisfied. he drags her out by the arm. in the car, she agrees it was more dignified than throwing her over his shoulder.

varenyky see, varenyky do
there's a sweet smelling aroma that permeates the apartment. she pulls up a chair and stares at the timer, oven mits over her hands and an extinguisher resting against her leg. she knows that a watched pot never boils, but she doesn't want any surprises before she gets her insurance sorted.

his and hers
anya doesn't voice it, but when he takes his jacket off and hangs it up with her things she feels her heart swell. it looks like it belongs. he forgets to take it with him in the morning. she slips it off the hook and onto her shoulders. the weight of the fabric is like the weight of him. she feels comforted.

a new day
there are gifts waiting for her from her friend and new neighbour. she reads the handwritten care instructions a dozen times, careful to abide by them. there is a feeling of responsibility. "sing to them" the last instruction reads. she finds herself cooing lullabies to the unopened buds. the sunlight seems different as it pours through the kitchen window.

white candle
when sasha visits, little trinkets start to appear in her living room. sweet, thoughtful embellishments that make her smile. then, a candle that gives her pause. it smells like ripened plums. she texts her sister and asks if it's dangerous to ingest, her horrified reply is all anya needs for confirmation. she sends back "a simple no would have sufficed,"

brand new memories
the first time anya suggests it, he raises a brow at the ceiling and the glass and wonders how they'll even fit. at her coaxing, he's proven wrong. he's trying to peel his wet hair out of his eyes when he loses his footing and they crash through the adjacent wall into the bedroom. they are wet and tangled up but can't stop laughing.

king of the castle
lochie finds his throne at the foot of the couch. he insists that the cushion looks better on the floor and carries it there any chance he gets. he curls up and falls asleep. anya is glad to know he feels at home too. he snores like an old man. she's always found it endearing.

once upon a december
they are her most treasured reminders of home. her sister sasha is where she finds her purpose. her baba gives her courage. her uncle valentin -- gone before she was old enough to remember -- gives her hope. soon, she will add nico. he has become her strength. at night, she finds herself praying for them all.