Life was about to offer new perspectives to Maya Leonov, a recent high school graduate who had eagerly awaited the moment when she could finally leave behind the familiar home of her childhood and the protection of her parents, Nicola and Raúl.
Prominent figures in her hometown, Nicola and Raúl—a doctor and a prosecutor—often used their influence to help their two children, Maya and Nicholas, whenever they strayed from the right path. Moreover, as the only grandchildren of old Necolai, a distant relative of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, the two siblings had been spoiled their entire lives, every wish granted at any hour of the day or night.
What ultimately pushed Maya to leave Chișinău and come all the way to Romania was the unbearable weight of her family's expectations. As descendants of the Tsar's family, her parents were part of one of the most admired families in Russia. They were important figures in society and frequently hosted or attended various high-profile events. The pressure placed on Maya and Nicholas from a very young age was immense, as they were expected to be role models at all times—even when they were barely old enough to hold a bottle. She had to admit that they had not been particularly calm children, despite the education provided by their mother and the private tutors hired by their parents.
Smiling to herself, Maya told herself that everything was about to change. The little girl she once was remained in the past, and was now replaced by a confident and sexy young woman. She was now a first-year student in one of the most demanding major at the prestigious Univerity of Medicine in Târgu Mureș. She had given her very best at the entrance exam, managing to rank second out of a total of seventy students. And still, her parents were not satisfied. In their opinion, she should have ranked first, and by a considerable margin ahead of the others.
After the opening ceremony of the academic year, the students in the group she had been assigned to met their year coordinator, were informed about lecture halls, examination methods, received their schedule for the week, and then were left to socialize and get to know eachother. Among the students of group D2, the only person whose attitude truly impressed her was Delia Toma. Her physical opposite but her twin in thoughts, Delia was of average height and build, with dark chestnut hair, green eyes, thin lips, and soft cheeks. At first glance, she seemed gentle, compassionate, God-fearing, and deeply concerned with the well-being of those around her. This time, appearances were not deceiving.
Delia told Maya about her volunteer work at the Pediatric Hospital and the rewarding satisfaction it brought her. She could easily imagine an angel bearing her colleague's face, helping poor children hospitalized for weeks, even months. Maya shared her enthusiasm and longed to be able to do something similar. She was eager to help abandoned children and soon came to the conclusion that the two of them would make a great team for any future project. She shared her ideas and plans with Delia, who agreed to work together. They were going to make a strong team, both at university and beyond.
At the insistence of old Necolai, Nicola and Raúl had created university funds for their children, should they wish to continue their studies. Maya finally gained access to a modest monthly allowance, which allowed her—starting from the very first week of classes—to move out of the cramped dormitory room and, together with Delia, into the cozy and comfortable apartment where her new friend lived. The apartment was located on the second floor of a six-story building, in a quiet neighborhood not far from the faculty. Delia often told her that she could not have found a better deal for such an apartment. It wasn't anything extraordinary, but it was their little home.
Maya associated the apartment with an oasis of calm. The front door opened into a small, dark hallway, its ceiling richly dotted with spotlights. The only piece of furniture was a massive coat rack that looked antique at first glance, like the ones found in the books she loved so much. The bathroom was to the right of the entrance, next to Delia's room. Maya's room was on the opposite side of the bathroom, with the kitchen situated between the two bedrooms.
The recently renovated kitchen was bathed in light from a window overlooking the main street. The light that filled the room created an image seemingly lifted straight from an interior design magazine. The cabinets covered the wall to the left of the window, while the table and four chairs stood opposite. The refrigerator, stove, and washing machine were built into the furniture, offering more freedom of movement.
Maya's room was painted in two tones. The walls were cream-colored, while the ceiling and the decorative plasterboard designs were a light brown shade. It was a sanctuary of peace, offering a view of the neighborhood park. It was relaxing and pleasant. She knew she would enjoy living there and eagerly awaited the next day, unaware that life had a surprise of considerable proportions in store for her.