Loss Of Petro's Life

Luba, never too strong, was often experiencing shortness of breath, pain in the legs, and general weakness. Most of her days she spent in a bed now, leaving house chores to Petro and Victor. With the coming winter, her condition deteriorated with added pneumonia. Because of diabetes, her kidney could not process liquids that filled her body. Several visits to the overcrowded local hospital did not help, and by June 1946 Luba Rastorgueva passed away, leaving behind grieving husband and child.
Another loss in the life of nine years old boy left another scar on his developing personality. Luba’s death was a huge loss and somewhat blessing for Petro, who spent last year taking care of her under the utmost difficult conditions. He, himself was sick and depressed. Most of the evenings he spent sitting at the kitchen table looking into single spot on the wall. Victor became his only link to now empty life.
Petro was dotting on him: the best, (most time the only), piece of potato or bread went to Victor, while Petro would go to bed hungry. On rare occasions, Petro even bought him caramel candy. Children are resilient, and as every child, Victor healed; he went about his life with school and friends on the block, yet Petro was inconsolable. Although Petro survived both World Wars, the years of occupation, starvation and broken heart ruined his health. The chain smoking that caused lung emphysema was the last straw. He died in 1947, in the gloomy hospital room, clutching worn out Victor’s coat, next to his