But on that sunlit Sunday, Alexander knew nothing, thought nothing, imagined nothing. He forgot Dimitri and war and the Soviet Union and escape plans, and even America, and crossed the street for Tatiana Metanova.

Everything comes at a price. Everthing in your life. The question you have to ask yourself is, what price are you willing to pay?

Tatiana, I love you. Do you hear me? I love you like I’ve never loved anyone in my whole life. Now, get up. For me, Tatia. For me, please get up and go take care of your sister. Go on. And I’ll take care of you.” His lips kissed her cheek.

If I can live through this, he thought, I can live through anything. If I can live through this, I WILL live through anything.

We can’t forget that I owe you my life.” She gazed at him. “We can’t forget that I belong to you.” “I like that sound of that,” Alexander said, hugging her tighter.

Falling in love with you in the Summer Garden in the white nights in Leningrad is the moment that propels me through life.

Please stop looking at me, she thought, afraid of his eyes and terrified of her own heart.