Yulia 2

It was a month ago. My five-year-old niece, Yulia, was visiting us (my mother and I live alone)—my sister had gone on a business trip, and there was no one to look after Yulia. Since my mother works, I had to look after my niece. It's not that I didn't love her, but nannying isn't exactly my calling. Anyway, I lasted a week, then went to the dacha to work in the garden and didn't return until two days later, around three in the morning (my car broke down on the way).

I walked into the house, leaving the light off so as not to wake anyone. I went into the kitchen and nearly died of fear: Yulia lunged at me from somewhere in the corner. She pushed me aside, ran out of the kitchen, and rushed crying into my mother's room. I felt ashamed—I'd scared the girl, and I was scared myself. I was even surprised—what was she doing there?

 In the morning, I asked Mom why Yulia was wandering around at night. Mom looked at me like I was sick and said Lisa (my sister) had taken her the day before yesterday, and there were no other children in our house. But I saw Yulia as clearly as I can see a computer screen right now. What was that?..

To say I was shocked is an understatement. She ran up to me, nudged me, I felt her touch!

A couple of days later, Mom came home from work, worried, and asked me to tell her everything again, in more detail. When I told her what Yulia was wearing (she was wearing a white nightgown), Mom said,

"She didn't have any nightgown, she slept in her pajamas."

And sure enough, she had those pink pajamas. Yulia loves them very much and sleeps only in them.

Mom was upset—she said it was a bad sign. Sure enough, a few days later, Yulia ended up in the hospital—she'd spilled a hot kettle on herself and burned her leg. And when my mom and I went to visit her, she was wearing a white hospital gown, exactly the same one I'd seen Yulia wear that night...