Cause I'm Five Minutes Older

Mikhail finally got me to take the rest of my clothes off and put the robe on. I didn’t want to go. I pouted, but that didn’t get me far. Mikhail ended up carrying me up the stairs and out to the bath house. He knocked on the door and it opened. He stepped in inside, set me down, and latched the door closed. He took off his robe and went to sit on the bench alone the side. His mom, dad, Ekaterina, Calina, and Semyon were doing the same looking used to this.
“She’s shy.” He told his family. Calina, who I could now see was quite pregnant, tossed me a towel.
“Put it in your lap if you want.” She told me. She in fact was doing that. I did as she said when I sat down with out the robe. Everyone stared at my scars, but didn’t ask how I got them for that I was grateful.
“So you talked to your family?” Mama asked me. I nodded.
“They said they could come next week Thursday. I am also pretty sure that my dad will agree with the marriage. He saw how happy I was.” His mother clapped as did Calina. I was starting to have a fondness for her. She kept smiling at me. She didn’t stare like the rest. “I was thinking about getting my own place before then. And they can stay there until they leave. I don’t know how long they will stay. If they will leave before the wedding or not. How do you go about weddings here?”
“You two are supposed to apply in writing to the department of registrations asking to register your marriage. The department will give you available dates, but according to the law there must be at least one month of waiting period before you can marry.” Mama answered me. “That gives us short time to plan. I would like you to come as soon as possible to go over ideas for a dress. Tomorrow maybe.”
“Of course.”
“How many of your family will be coming Thursday?” Ekaterina asked looking straight at my face.
“My parents, my four brothers, and my oldest brother’s wife.” She nodded at my answer.
“Would you like me to help you get them from the airport? How about help moving in to your new home?” She now asked, she was being nice now.
“I am guessing that Anechka and Verochka told you about me?” Everyone smiled at the same time. I sighed.
“I am quite different then the press depicts me to be. I am not as fragile as they make me seem. I am normal yes I have had a huge set back, but I am and have been over that. Still I am not the same girl I was two years ago. Naïve, small town, preacher’s daughter who walked around with the hugest secret I could. Back then they called me Abigail Kimble. I lived with another family because I was afraid of following my brother’s footsteps. I ended up doing it anyway. I ended up getting very hurt. My scars came from a boy who was very obsessed and had many, many problems. I was chained up and beaten in ways many could never imagine. I was kept alive only because he would inject me with insulin, not because he fed me well. I was lucky to get one meal in a week. I wasn’t myself when they found me. I was in rehab for months because when he did feed me it was highly drugged. But I am fine now. I have learned to except. I am sorry if I am laying so much on you at once, but I think you guys should know what you are getting.”
“We are happy to get even damaged goods here.” Mama said looking towards Calina. I couldn’t help to wonder the story there. “I couldn’t help, but notice scars on your back make out English letters.”
“He cut the words: ‘Fate brought us together’ into my back. He had problems. I am glad it’s something nice not one of the names he called me. Fate brings lots of things together.” I looked up at Mikhail. He grinned and kissed my hair.
“Back to the wedding.” Mikhail’s father spoke for the first time since we’ve met. “I would like Mikhail to be married in the church.” Mama, I call her that because of how motherly she is, patted her husbands arm.
“Dear, I don’t think she’s Russian Orthodox.”
“Actually, I don’t really remember what religion I am.” I replied Mikhail’s hand wrapped around mine. “I live here now. I can be what I want.” Despite the fact I am a rock star in a family of rock stars. I’ll continue with music.
“That’s wonderful.” The parents smiled at me liking me more and more with the second.