The Sunflower Sisters

As they became friends and learned to care for each other they discovered that people are people the world over

- FRAN TRACEY

 

Dobri den, Siobhan. Dinner is ready soon," Elena called from the kitchen.

Siobhan, exhausted after her 12 hour shift as a children's nurse, wasn't hungry. The sound of Elena's exuberant son, Artem, jumping on the wooden floor in their bedroom made her envious of his childhood energy.

Siobhan slipped off her shoes and coat. She could never sleep straight after a shift, needing time to decompress, so, drawn by the scent of fresh basil, she headed for the kitchen.

"I have made pesto pasta. Your favourite?" Elena sounded uncertain.

"It is, Elena." Siobhan loved homemade pesto pasta. Maybe she was hungrier than she'd thought. Tomorrow Elena and Artem would be gone; her flat quiet again. It would be strange.

Her guests had arrived last year, Llanding in the chill of the late evening. Artem was wrapped in a blanket, just his nose and his scared, wide brown eyes visible. Siobhan hugged them. They were strangers, but not strangers, having spoken via video call over previous weeks.

Elena and Artem spoke more English than Siobhan spoke Ukrainian. Dobri den had been her first words to them. Hello. Then laskavo prosymo. Welcome.