Lahat ng Kabanata ng Dropped the Deadweight, Hit the Road: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

Drovetsk, the hometown.I looked up. Ivan Brown, all decked out in his uniform, oozed smug. So not the awkward kid I remembered.He stepped in front of Nadia Kollar like her personal bodyguard. She hid behind him, all pale and pathetic with those downturned eyes.Next to her, I looked like a wreck. No contest—she was prettier.They fit. Too well. Just looking at them hurt.My hands, raw and bleeding from the cold, curled into fists. I swallowed the sting."Then I'm done. Engagement's off."Olenna snapped, "Don't be ridiculous! Ivan misspoke. Go make dinner. I'll handle him."My brain short-circuited. I just turned and walked to the kitchen.Ivan and I had been locked in since forever. Childhood sweethearts, stuck like glue.Then my dad died in the line of duty when I was fifteen. Mom couldn't handle it—she remarried and bailed. I was on my own.Ivan's family took me in. I owed them, so when Olenna got paralyzed, I stepped up.I even gave him the military spot, which was the

I stared him down, zero fear in my eyes."Let's get something straight. This house? Rebuilt with my dad's death benefits. I make my own money. I've taken care of your mom for ten years. I don't need praise—but I deserve respect. This is how you thank me?"He didn't have a comeback. Still had a sliver of shame left.I turned, walked back to my room, pulled out the application form, and filled it in—slow and steady.Mr. Randall, the village head, had stopped by recently pushing the Rural Teaching Support Program.The first batch of teachers would get solid government support.Back then, I only took the form to be polite.Now? It felt like my ticket out.***Just as I finished the form, someone knocked.Ivan. Holding a steaming bowl of buckwheat with egg.I blinked, caught off guard. My face softened before I could stop it.Maybe... maybe he still cared.A flicker of hope sparked—unwanted, but there.I reached for the bowl.He yanked it back."What are you doing? It's for

The color in Ivan's face drained. The coat hit the floor—he didn't even blink.Northeast? That middle-of-nowhere place? She really ghosted without a word?He bolted to the station, eyes darting through the crowd.The train was seconds from pulling out. He had to catch her.Then—bam—last car.There she was.***I sat by the window, watching the world blur.Ivan slammed the glass, yelling my name.I slid it open slowly—the cold wind hit like a slap.He was full-on screaming."Elya, get off the train! Are you nuts? Running off to some nowhere-town? What about my mom? What about me?"I just stared."Ten years, Ivan. Did you ever ask if I was cold? Tired? Okay? Now you care?"His face went red. He fumbled, "I... I...""Let's just pretend we never met."The train started rolling. He ran for a bit.Then he stopped, watching me fade out.I didn't look back.By the time I hit the remote town, it was dead dark.The Wind slapped grit across my face.I pulled my coat tight and

When the time was right, he'd fix it. Say sorry. Never mention Nadia again.But back home? Total meltdown.Nadia couldn't stand being there, and Olenna made it worse by the hour.What started as snide digs turned into full-on screaming matches."You're a curse on this house! If it weren't for you, Elya'd still be here! I wouldn't be like this! Get out!" Olenna shrieked, spit flying.Nadia cracked. She ran to Ivan, bawling."Ivan, your mom screamed at me! Called me a homewrecker! Said I bring bad luck! I'm scared..."Ivan's head pounded. Caught in the middle, he was drowning.So, he caved. Brought in the neighbor, Mrs. Peterson, to look after Olenna.Finally, the house went quiet. For now.But then came the next headache—Olenna's meds ran out.Ivan took the script to the pharmacy, his draw dropping. And that didn't even cover doctor visits.He used to send a few hundred a month. Elya handled the rest. Never said a word.Now he couldn't stop thinking about her rough hands, h

Two weeks later, a letter landed in my hands—no mistaking Ivan's handwriting.Didn't want to open it. Did anyway.The tone was all sorrow.He wrote about how Olenna's death broke him, how he drank too much, how he "accidentally" slept with Nadia.Now Nadia was threatening to off herself if he didn't step up.But, of course, he still "only loved me."If I came back, he swore he'd never marry her.I let out a sharp, cold laugh.Then tossed the letter straight into the fire.The flames ate the letter fast—thin paper gone in seconds, just like whatever was left of my feelings for Ivan.I had better things to do now.I was busy—teaching kids to read, running classes for the women in Stepnoye.No time for that kind of trash.Lately, I'd started writing—little snapshots of life here, the kids' goofy grins, their wins.And out of nowhere, a newspaper picked up my pieces. Asked me to write every week.That hit different. Gave me something real.Every night after lessons, I'd wri