Marina's Cloud 9: Collection of Short Stories

By Marina A. Popova

Life is difficult, sometimes even incomprehensible. To each our own, we live in a way we think is right. One moves mountains; the other one is content with simple happiness. In this life, we stumble and learn not to; we love, and we grieve; we doubt, and we fight; our world sometimes turns upside down, and we learn to live anew.

This short story collection touch on the most emotional topics, such as the destructive and healing power of love, the price of beauty, loneliness and sorrow, motherhood, the impact of kindness. These stories resonate with everyone, make you think, and at times, even shed a tear.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press AU
• Release date: May 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9781982294588

Marina A. Popova

Marina has always been passionate about writing and storytelling. She described herself as a curious Writer who loves exploring different themes and motifs. Her main focus is Inspirational style of writing and Woman's Fiction. As part of her writing process, she loves immersing herself in the projects—diving headfirst into the research, production, and fine-tuning of the stories she feels are the most worthy of telling. Marina live in Melbourne, Australia with her beautiful daughters Lidiya and Adrian and husband Siva.

Book preview

MARINA’S

Cloud 9

Collection of Short Stories

Marina A. Popova

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Copyright © 2022 Marina Popova.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means,

graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by

any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author

except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Balboa Press

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www.balboapress.com.au

AU TFN: 1 800 844 925 (Toll Free inside Australia)

AU Local: [phone] ([phone] from outside Australia)

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this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views

expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the

views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any

technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the

advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer

information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-

being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your

constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-9822-9455-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-9458-8 (e)

Balboa Press rev. date:  05/04/2022

Contents

1     Story Two

2     Story Her

3     Story Mornings

4     Story Touch

5     Story Cap

6     Story Sacrifice

7     Story Regret

8     Story Gone

9     Story Sea Eyes

10   Story Fears

11   Story Altar

12   Story I Do

13   Story Her Warmth

14   Story Crown

15   Story Simple

16   Story Denial

17   Story Jason

18   Story Gloom

19   Story Let Go

20   Story Pit

21   Story Mirror

22   Story Avalon

23   Story Tears

24   Story Beggar

25   Story Stranger

26   Story Rainbow

27   Story Anniversary

28   Story Bittersweet

29   Story Blessing

30   Story Forgive

Notes:

Dedicated to all hopeless romantics

who still believe in love…

1

Story Two

A udrey called the waiter over.

Another round? What do you think, girls? she asked her girlfriends loudly.

More tequila, make it double! she addressed the waiter in the same loud voice.

He gave Audrey a little smile and made a step towards the bar when she called out to him again.

Don’t forget to get yourself some, too. It’s on me!

She was pretty drunk by then and oblivious to both the waiter and the young man who was clearly into her and had offered to pay for their drinks a little while ago. Audrey didn’t resist. First, she knew the effect she had on men. Second, she took immediate notice of the young man’s expensive Gucci shoes. The waiter brought the drinks. Audrey called him up and tried to see the name on his plastic badge.

A... D... she managed to discern the first two letters.

The waiter smiled again and said,

Adam, my name is Adam.

Is Eve nearby? Audrey laughed.

He wanted to add something else, but realizing how drunk she was, the waiter simply turned away and left. Adam continued serving different tables with drinks. Having approached Audrey’s table again, he realized that she was nowhere to be seen. He looked around and noticed that her friends were getting ready to leave.

He came up to their table and asked,

Should I bring you the bill?

The ladies laughed as one and shouted, It’s up to Audrey, she’s the one who likes to take care of bills. First, she takes care of the bill, and then she’ll take care of him...

They all looked at the young man wearing Gucci shoes. In turn, he smirked and nodded slightly. Adam knew perfectly well what the nod meant and went back to the counter. In a while, he checked out Audrey’s table again, but neither she nor her friends were around. He saw the Gucci man head towards the exit. It alarmed Adam; clients do that sometimes when they don’t want to pay for the drinks, they simply get up and leave one by one. Adam put the tray down and followed the man. Outside he saw just what he expected. Audrey was bending over near some shrubs and trying to vomit. Her body was shaking violently.

The young man stood nearby, almost screaming at her, How could you get this drunk, you can barely stand. You know what, I think I’ll do just fine without your vomit in my bed!

He turned away quickly and went back inside the bar. Adam felt sorry for her and came up to Audrey to give her a hand – it looked like she was about to crash down. All of a sudden Audrey tensed and vomited right into the shrubs. Adam took a handkerchief out of his pocket and started to wipe her mouth. Audrey seemed completely out of it.

Can you tell me where you live so that I can get you a taxi? Adam tried to ask her.

However, all Audrey could do was powerlessly fall on his chest.

When she opened her eyes, it was bright. The window was open, curtains slowly shuffling on the floor. She wanted to turn her head and look around, but immediately felt millions of needles pierce her temples and forehead. Wow, she did get really drunk last night. But where is she? Audrey finally managed to get up from bed and slowly walked up to the door, holding on to everything she came across. She opened the door and saw a small hallway and a kitchen. It was very quiet and she thought she was alone.

Hello, is anyone home?

Nothing. Audrey found the bathroom with a shower. She looked in the mirror and turned away, horrified. Audrey preferred wearing colourful makeup, but now it was all smeared across her face as if someone daubed her face with a brush. Her hair hardly looked any better. She had curled and fixed it with hair spray the night before, so now she looked like a homeless lady with a messy nest on her head. Well, this won’t do, I need a shower, Audrey thought. Water soothed her body and washed all of the last night away. Audrey felt her body relax under the warm stream. When she finished, she noticed two towels in the bathroom, one was wet, the other seemed clean and fresh. She wrapped the latter around herself and headed to the door. Audrey thought she heard the front door creak. He entered the flat the moment she walked out of the shower.

Oh, that’s you, A... she mumbled.

Adam, my name is Adam, he helped her once again.

She cocked her head.

I’m sorry about that Eve joke, I was really drunk and hardly knew what I was doing.

Adam looked at Audrey, wrapped in her tiny towel, and offered her some of his clothes. Apparently, he had washed her clothes last night. They were dirty. Audrey suddenly remembered herself vomiting in the shrubs last night.

Terrified by her recollection, Audrey asked,

Last night... Did anything happen? Between us?

Adam shook his head and went over to the closet to find Audrey something to wear.

Two weeks had passed, but Audrey didn’t hear from Adam again. That morning, Adam had told her over breakfast that he was finishing college and had only a couple of months left there. Audrey noticed how many books he had. When asked, Adam explained that they were on atomic physics.

Audrey swallowed nervously; turns out, she just had her face cleaned of vomit by Einstein. The thought made her smile. Adam said he was working at the bar on the weekends since he wanted to continue his studies.

Audrey caught herself listening to him talk about his college with a lot of interest. The thing is, Audrey had met someone a few years ago. She thought he was the one, her love for life. She even dropped out of the university for him, but in the end, he started going out with her friend. It was such a big shock that Audrey had promised herself to never fall in love again. However, when she was sitting in the kitchen with Adam, she couldn’t help but think of how he didn’t leave her alone drunk in front of the bar, but took her home instead, washed her clothes, gave her a clean towel, and made her breakfast.

Audrey checked her phone again. No new messages or calls from Adam.

Another week passed by, but Adam didn’t try to contact her. Finally, Audrey found the courage to contact him herself. First, she wanted to call him or send him a message, but decided against it, worried that it might look like stalking. No, she wanted to make their encounter look purely coincidental. In the end, she made up her mind: she would go to the bar and see him there. She hadn’t seen her friends since the night they had been having fun with the Gucci man. No, she wouldn’t call them, she just wanted to see Adam, but this time not drunk.

She stopped a few steps before the bar entrance. What if Adam just said, Hi and passed her by? That would be too embarrassing. Audrey knew that men were generally fond of her, but she also remembered only too well that Adam hadn’t tried to take advantage of her, having brought her home or seen her in a tiny towel the next morning. Audrey slowly walked into the bar and saw a noisy group of people. She was perplexed; those were her friends. She took a closer look and noticed the Gucci guy among them. Looks like they had abandoned her that night and were having fun behind her back now. She came up to their table. Everyone went silent.

Having fun, are we? Audrey asked calmly.

They started asking her questions about getting home that night they hung out and how she was doing in general.

Audrey looked confused.

Real friends would have never done that to me, said Audrey.

Adam was standing near the counter when he noticed a fight firing up at one of the tables he was serving. He heard loud voices. Adam walked up to them. Audrey and her friends were screaming at each other. Adam listened closely to try and understand what was going on. Soon enough, he realized that they were fighting about that night and abandoning Audrey. She was freaking out in anger, so Adam decided to call her by her name. When she turned, he saw tears in her eyes. Adam felt her shiver. Tears started trickling down Audrey’s face, and Adam knew she needed warmth and support, and he wanted to take care of her. He tried to say something, but couldn’t find the right words. Not knowing what to do, he put his arms on her waist and held her close. Audrey lowered her head on his chest and said quietly, Let’s go to your place, please. I want to be with you tonight.

Adam held her even closer and kissed her on the forehead.

The academic year was over, so Adam took a couple of weeks off from work. He had been suffering from headaches lately, so he asked the bar manager to give him a vacation. Audrey found his idea of going out of town exciting. Adam called a real estate agency and booked a house near a lake. Audrey insisted on splitting the bill. Adam tried to refuse, but Audrey threatened to stay home, if he didn’t let her pay half of the bill. After all, he gave up, and Audrey began packing. They got on a bus and reached their destination in about three hours. The two weeks they passed by the lake were the best time of Audrey’s life. She enjoyed the fresh air and endless fields of green. They would often run through the grass like kids. Audrey stopped using makeup and doing her hair. She wore simple and comfortable clothes. They would ride their bicycles or walk all day long. Audrey laughed; only a couple of months ago, she had been suffocating in stuffy bars with a kilo of makeup on her face and dressed up in skinny jeans and high heels. And now... She smiled thinking of how they had gone skinny-dipping in the lake the night before, thinking of his warm and tender, yet so demanding and tantalizing lips. Adam noticed Audrey smile.

What are you thinking? he asked.

It’s been a while since I wanted to ask you something... she started.

Go on, Adam prompted her.

After I had left you that morning, you didn’t try to contact me for three weeks. Why? Audrey continued.

Adam stayed silent for a while, and then he spoke, I used to see you all the time at the bar, usually accompanied by wealthy men. I am only a student, and a pretty penniless one. I’m no match for them.

Audrey wanted to object, but Adam continued., There’s something else. I had been in love before. She returned my feelings, but I went too far and tried to control her. In the end, she couldn’t take it and left me. Then, I realized something important; If you love someone, set them free. If they come back, they truly love you. If they don’t, nothing is going to help.

Perplexed, Audrey asked, You mean; you were torturing me on purpose for three weeks?

Adam laughed, I wasn’t torturing you. I gave you time to make a choice and see if you wanted to contact me yourself.

Audrey was about to get defensive, but noticed love sparkling in Adam’s eyes, so she decided to simply come closer and hug him tight.

When they returned to the city, Adam complained about his headaches again. They caused him so much suffering he could barely read any book, his head felt like it was about to burst. It troubled Audrey. They decided to see a doctor, who referred Adam to an ophthalmologist. Medical exams showed that Adam had congenital ocular tension that had begun to worsen. Audrey was beside herself with worry.

Doctor, Adam wants to continue his studies, but he can hardly read now.

The doctor said he’d place Adam under medical supervision and see him again in a month. However, Adam was back in the clinic in only a week; he couldn’t sleep at night anymore. It was decided that he needed an emergency eye surgery. Audrey anxiously paced the hospital hallway waiting for the surgery to be over. When the surgeon came out, he said that everything had gone well, but the final results would only be known in a week when they would take the bandages off.

What are you talking about? Audrey asked, terrified.

The doctor explained that it was a complex surgery that sometimes had consequences.

What kind of consequences? Audrey asked once again.

The doctor shook his head and replied quietly, Permanent loss of vision.

Audrey was sitting at a wooden table and painting avouriter clouds. She had accidentally discovered she had a talent for that; one day, she simply took a piece of paper and tried to draw a vase with flowers. It worked out surprisingly well. Then, she heard Adam call for her. Audrey put down the brush and rushed upstairs. They had moved out of town and lived by the very same lake they had visited a year ago. Audrey got reinstated at her university and studied remotely, same as Adam. In their free time, they enjoyed their life to the fullest. They walked in the fields, swam in the lake, did some gardening, and took long autumn walks to nearby villages... No more bikes though.

Audrey climbed the stairs and entered the bedroom. Adam was sitting on their bed and trying to tie his shoelaces to no avail.

I’ve been saying we should get you Velcro sneakers for ages, but you’re so stubborn, said Audrey.

I’m not completely disabled, you know. I can’t see, but that’s it, Adam smiled.

Audrey helped him get up and go down the stairs.

Would you like to walk in the rain? Adam asked.

I’ve always dreamt of getting my shoes and feet wet, Audrey replied jokingly.

They laughed.

Let me grab a couple of umbrellas and we’ll go, okay? Don’t forget your cane, Audrey asked.

All right, my love, all right, said Adam with a smile.

2

Story Her

T his happened in the fall of 1995. It was fast and unexpected, like most things in life. Fate creeps up on you, caresses your cheek with a slap, and gracefully goes away. However, let’s start with the beginning.

I was ten when I saw her for the first time. I had asked my brother for his bike to go to the Golden ponds. A day earlier, I had seen new tenants move into a summer house there. She carried something in her hands, but I was too far on top of the hill to see what it was. Anyway, all I could think of was her golden hair tenderly fluttering in the wind. I felt my legs give way. Probably, that was what they call love at first sight.

That night, my brother and I went to the pond for a swim. And, lo and behold, she was there with another girl who seemed to be a few years older. My brother and I went straight into the water, but the girls looked hesitant. My brother found the courage to ask them to join us in the water. She said, Isabella, you’re older, so you should go first and check if there are really huge crayfish living there, as grandma said.

I smiled and said that it was all just a hoax the locals spread to keep out-of-towners away from the water. She laughed fervently. I’d never heard such a genial laugh before. She started going down to the water, still unsure, so I worked up the nerve and offered her a hand. She smiled and suddenly said,

I’m Helena, and you?

My treacherous heart began pounding loudly. Shhh! What if she hears that?

I’m Luke, how long are you going to stay? I bolted, having found my courage.

That’s how it started, my first love named Helena.

A year passed, and I couldn’t wait for the summer to start. I knew she would come, and I would get to see my dream girl once again. When I finally saw her, my heart skipped a beat. She looked even more radiant, her hair was even longer and a little faded because of the sun. I was dying to come closer and simply stand next to her, but her mum said they had to unpack and arrange their summer house. Isabella didn’t come; she went to college and her holidays did not coincide with that of the rest of the family. I waited patiently for a couple of days to give them a chance to rest. Finally, on Sunday, I asked her out to catch butterflies in the field. It was the season for butterflies, after all. We were allowed to chase the butterflies with a special loose net to avoid hurting them, on the condition that we would set them free right away. Helena didn’t have such a net, so I joyfully suggested making one for her myself. It was my chance to impress her with my dexterity. Surely, it was easier said than done. I managed to rig up some sort of a crooked loose hoop, which was far from perfect. Nevertheless, Helena seemed happy with my creation, so we set off for our butterfly-catching adventure.

She would come to our town every summer with her parents, becoming older and even more beautiful with each passing year. As ill-luck would have it, I had pimples all over my face; in an attempt to hide them, I would only meet Helena in the dusk so that she couldn’t see them. We stood next to a blossoming apple tree, its marvellous fragrance flooding the air. All of a sudden, she came near me. I felt a lock of her hair brush against my face.

Luke, it was my birthday last month, I turned 16. I got a lot of presents and all, but there was just one thing I actually wished for.

My traitorous heart started pounding again.

What is it? What were you dreaming about?

I felt her tender breath approach my ear.

Kiss me, please, she whispered.

Myriads of butterflies scattered across my young body. I found myself hugging her gently. She pressed herself against me, and our lips locked in an unforgettable kiss that we both coveted.

In two years, we both turned 18, so we stopped hiding our relationship. It was a small town, so everybody knew we’d been seeing each other for a couple of years. By that time, our parents knew each other. Helena and I started having plans for the future. We both decided to go to college; Helena wanted to become a child psychologist, and I was interested in Physics. I had a pipe dream nobody knew of; I dreamt of proposing to Helena once we were both through with our studies.

The shrill sound of a car engine suddenly brought me back to reality. Who was it, interrupting my daydreaming? Helena watched the car speed along the road away from us.

I’ve never seen a Ferrari this close before, especially a red one. Luke, do you know who that is? she asked out of nowhere.

We figured it was a 40-year-old businessman who had been renting a house on the opposite side of town for a few years. At first, his business had not been going too well, so he used to move around on a bike. However that year, the market boomed, so he finally succeeded. He bought the house he’d been renting and a Ferrari. In a few days, we walked into a café to get some fresh soda; the day was hot. The businessman was sitting inside reading a newspaper. I noticed his heavy jawline and expensive shoes, the kind I could have never dreamt of. He folded the newspaper, paid, and left. Helena said, Luke, get us those sodas, please. I need to buy something else.

She left the café in a rush. There was a queue, so I had to wait for about 15 minutes. When leaving, I nearly crashed into Helena. We laughed and went towards the pond. I noticed she was in a very cheerful mood, must have been the fresh soda or my company. I wanted to believe it was the latter. That was the last summer we spent together. The year after, we both went to college.

A year passed, and I was supposed to leave in a month. Strangely, Helena barely talked to me all year long saying she was getting ready for her entrance exams. Finally, at the train station, my parents and my brother were there to say goodbyes. I found my seat and set out to conquer the wondrous world of science. In a few months, I received a shocking letter from my brother saying he had seen Helena and her family in our hometown. I couldn’t believe my eyes. She told me she was in college, just like me. My heart went racing. Something was wrong. What could have happened? I called the house Helena’s family used to rent, but nobody picked up. I tried to reach my parents, but they were not picking up either. What was that about? I called the train station to find out the next train was leaving in 40 minutes. Luckily, our dorms were rather close to the station, so I packed in a hurry and rushed there. In 6 hours, I was finally back home. It was getting dark. It was raining buckets, but I didn’t have an umbrella since I had given mine away to Helena the year before. I rushed to the house her parents used to rent for years. The owners said that Helena’s family had just arrived and settled in the house that belonged to the Ferrari businessman. I thought he must have moved out of it. I ran there as fast as I could. I was surprised to see the Ferrari parked next to the house. I knocked, and Helena’s mum opened the door. She told me Helena and Isabella were out in town. She asked me to go home and wait for Helena to contact me in the morning. I was so exhausted after the trip and all the running that I didn’t resist.

The next morning, I got up early, had a shower, shaved, ironed my shirt and trousers, dressed up, and waited. I couldn’t eat a morsel. My fingers were shaking from anxiety. It felt as if everyone was in on something, everyone except me. The doorbell rang, it was Isabella. She held out an envelope to me, gave me a little smile, and left. Why was her face so full of sadness? I opened the envelope and found a letter. Only a few lines. She decided not to go to college as she was getting married to Serge, the businessman. The wedding was scheduled for next Saturday, in their house. I could come if I wanted to. On Monday, they were leaving on a honeymoon, and then moving to his place in England. That’s it... Ten years of our tender love stowed away in five measly lines.

The wedding took place next Saturday, as planned. Only those closest to the family were invited. Everything was kind of a blur to me, I could barely raise my eyes. I didn’t notice everyone getting up and going outside. Somebody called me, and I snapped out of it. I ran outside to see her one last time, but she was already leaving in the red Ferrari with a Just Married sign on the plate.

3

Story Mornings

A ria opened her eyes abruptly and started breathing heavily.

It was dark, but she knew it was about 3 am. It was not the first time that she woke up in the middle of the night like this. She was worried that it was becoming a habit.

Aria looked around and touched the pillow next to hers, it was empty.