When Vero opened her eyes the next day, Lev was no longer by her side. Darkness enveloped the room. It seemed Lev had turned off the sitting lamp and there was only a streak of light coming through the gap between the curtains.

Vero pushed aside the blanket with her bandaged hand, then stepped out of bed. She walked over to the window and opened the curtains to see the scenery outside. The forest stretches as far as the eye could see and in the distance are mountain ranges whose peaks are covered with snow.

Vero was trying to open the window, she wanted to breathe the morning air outside...