October 22nd, 1938
Ossia, my beloved, faraway sweetheart!
I have no words, my darling, to write this letter that you may never
read, perhaps. I am writing in empty space. Perhaps you will come back
and not find me here. Then this will be all you have to remember me by.
Osia, what a joy it was living together like children – all our
squabbles and arguments, the games we played, and our love. Now I do not
even look at the sky. If I see a cloud, who can I show it to?
Remember the way we brought back provisions to make our poor feasts
in all the places where we pitched our tent like nomads? Remember the
good taste of bread when we got it by a miracle and ate it together? And
our last winter in Voronezh. Our happy poverty, and the poetry you
wrote. I remember the time we were coming back once from the baths, when
we bought some eggs or sausage, and a cart went by loaded with hay. It
was still cold and I was freezing in my short jacket (but nothing like
what we must suffer now: I know how cold you are). That day comes back
to me now. I understand so clearly, and ache from the pain of it, that
those winter days with all their troubles were the greatest and last
happiness to be granted us in life.
My every thought is about you. My every tear and every smile is for
you. I bless every day and hour of our bitter life together, my
sweetheart, my companion, my blind guide in life.
Like two blind puppies we were, nuzzling each other and feeling so
good together. And how fevered your poor head was, and how madly we
frittered away the days of our life. What joy it was, and how we always
knew what joy it was.
Life can last so long. How hard and long for each of us to die alone.
Can this fate be for us who are inseparable? Puppies and children, did
we deserve this? Did you deserve this, my angel? Everything goes on as
before. I know nothing. Yet I know everything – each day and hour of
your life are plain and clear to me as in a delirium.
You came to me every night in my sleep, and I kept asking what had happened, but you did not reply.
In my last dream I was buying food for you in a filthy hotel
restaurant. The people with me were total strangers. When I had bought
it, I realized I did not know where to take it, because I do not know
where you are.
When I woke up, I said to Shura: ‘Ossia is dead.’ I do not know
whether you are still alive, but from the time of that dream, I have
lost track of you. I do not know where you are. Will you hear me? Do you
know how much I love you? I could never tell you how much I love you. I
cannot tell you even now. I speak only to you, only to you. You are
with me always, and I who was such a wild and angry one and never
learned to weep simple tears – now I weep and weep and weep.
It’s me: Nadezhda. Where are you?
Farewell.
Nadezhda
