Galyna, Galyna, Galyna
Galyna: A girl who stays calm and quiet in every situation; Calmness. (ancient greek)
Dearest diary, 4:20p.m.
Today is October 6th, 2026. Turning twenty-eight yesterday really shed light on some of the things I had been questioning lately. I was never one to put things together right away. It took me some time. Even as a little girl. I suppose my mother kept me sheltered enough to stay naive, though I'll be forever grateful to have her love and support throughout this.
Maybe the age had something to do with it. Maybe it had something to do with the craftsmanship, the skill, he possessed. I don’t think I’ll truly ever know. I do know, however, that the ‘It gets easier’ thing...isn’t linear. Healing, it takes time. It takes energy. It takes something in yourself...to really believe in yourself.
With love,
Galyna (P.S. A woman scorned, is often a woman reborn)
Dearest diary, 4:22p.m.
October 7th, 2026. A day after the 6th, and a year’s time since it happened. I’m old enough now, I’m strong enough now, but there’s always something about remembering. Or recalling, or writing or talking. It’s weird now that I think about it. 365 days can amount to so little, but so much at the same time.
Dr. Nastka gives the same speech every session. “It gets easier every time you write how you feel about it. Then one day, you’ll be able to talk about it, without the wound reopening.”
She’s right of course. She has science, and years of peer-reviewed evidence to back her up. My stubbornness, however, refuses to allow it.
Deception, and years of manipulation can do that to you. Reduce you to nothing, I mean. It shouldn’t still, the divorce is final in a week. Parker’s ‘mistakes,’ as he put it, had cost both of us a lot more pain than what the relationship was already worth. I'd given him my love, my affection, my dedication. A part of me still loves him, though the non stop texting, pleading, hasn't deterred me from my decisions, and I feel empowered to continue. To be true to myself, I need to stick with my own decisions. Not ones curated through emotional persuasion.
I hope that soon, he will be just another of those memories...like pasta night. Much darker, but similar, I guess.
Shit. Anneth. Tuesday night’s Olive Garden night. I need some five cheese ziti.
With love,
Galyna
Tuesday: October 7th, 2026 5:45p.m. Portland, Oregon
Anneth parked her car perfectly between the bulging yellow lines, and adjusted her attire. Wrinkles formed on her silk blouse from the car ride, and she wanted to look presentable. In the presence of her best friend, she'd always managed to look more out of place. It was never really her fault, she happened to be the clumsiest of the two.
She yanked the visor down, and lifted the aging plastic to reveal the mirror. She’d sprouted a deep tan over the summer, and she smiled at herself. Anneth taken the painstaking effort of applying self-care methods to her daily routine, and it had paid off. A newfound confidence appeared, and she felt a little calmer. She'd had a stressful day at work, and some wine would do the trick. She reached for her phone. The screen lit up , and she gasped when she took notice of the time.
Galyna shouldn’t be kept too much longer. She couldn’t see her car from her position in the lot, but Anneth knew that woman would be fifteen minutes early.
In the ten years she’d known her, Galyna deemed that to be on time. A small chuckle erupted from her lips, and she flipped the visor back up. She turned the ignition, and the keys plopped into her hand.
With one final adjustment of her curls, she opened her door, and proceeded to the restaurant. She gazed at the clouds above the entrance, and as she entered, she could hear the faint screech of crows in the distance.
Olive Garden didn’t seem to have their dinner rush just yet. A few stragglers stood by the door as she entered, but as she studied the place, most tables were vacant. Her emerald eyes scanned a few moments more, before her heart stopped.
There was no sight of Galyna, not at their usual table, not anywhere. Anneth took in a sharp breath, and determined that she was either late, or in the restroom. She refused to believe anything, not until it was undeniable, but worry still crept into her soul. Her friend was never late. Ever.
When she approached the hostess stand, she was greeted by a young girl, no older than seventeen. Not the usual, greying Meridia she’d come to know.
“How many?” she chirped, prematurely gathering menus.
“Uhm, I’m meeting someone here? A small, blonde woman.” She responded, determined to keep the desperation from her voice.
The girl looked a bit confused, and recognition covered her features. Anneth nearly breathed a sigh of relief. She’d at least had some clue of their existence. Thank you, Meridia.
“Oh, yes. I was told that you guys come in every Tuesday. She hasn’t come in yet, can I get you guys a table?” She replied, and gathered two menus to her chest.
Anneth could only nod, throat tightening a bit further. She wasn’t here.
"Yes, thank you." She finally spoke, and the woman began walking further into the dining room.
She wasn’t here.
She was led to a small table in the center of the restaurant, and Anneth mentally thanked the girl. She’d given her a clear view of the doors and windows.
Anneth called Galyna’s cell, and left a voice message stating she was at the restaurant. Then proceeded to send her a quick text. She placed her phone face-up on the table’s linen top, and looked at the door in anticipation.
She’s only a few minutes late. Something could have come up.
All Anneth could do was stare at the empty seat in front of her. Memories flooded her mind, one in particular taking up prime real-estate.
Tuesday October 7th, 2025. Olive Garden, Tenth Street. Portland, Oregon
Galyna sipped at her wine, the merlot staining just above her cupid’s bow. It was her second glass, and the salad hadn’t arrived just yet. Anneth noted that something was off. Lyn's appearance had always been something of concern to her, but today...she was too put together.
Her friend was never so jittery. Never so quiet. Their years of friendship had Anneth's internal wheels spinning, and she looked up from her own glass once again.
“Lyn? What’s going on?” The words slipped from her tongue, and she held her breath.
Galyna sighed, and circled her pointer finger around the base of the glass’ stem. Her brows furrowed together, presumably to form the words she wanted to say. She knew her own wheels had begun to spin, it was only a matter of time.
Anneth saw her do that often. There was so much Lyn wanted to say, but not much that she would let out. The walls had sprouted around her the day after her and Parker’s second anniversary. The name itself sent shivers down her spine.
How could one human, one man, just completely change the demeanor of someone she'd known her whole life? She'd asked so many questions. All the same, she'd get vague answers about the relationship.
“I think he did it. This time, I mean. He didn't come home last night.” Galyna spoke, softly, but loud enough for Anneth’s ears to pick it up.
She knew what her friend meant, but she wanted clarification. Her own brows pinched together, and she leaned over to Lyn. She'd give her all the time she needed to say what she needed to say.
“What do you mean, Galyna?” She opted for her full name, to show she was serious.
“I saw her name on his phone again, Anneth. Again. I don’t think I’m paranoid this time. I’m going through his phone. Tonight.” Galyna murmured.
Her gentle nature forbade Galyna from exerting the anger Anneth knew she felt inside. Her heart broke for Lyn. All she’d ever wanted was to be loved. Parker, in her opinion, had only ever done the opposite. All her friend ever wanted was to be seen in a relationship. Anneth took a careful sip of her wine.
“I’m sorry, Lyn. You deserve so much better. You know, Sheri never liked him.” she attempted to joke with her.
Galyna only sighed, and finished the rest of her own glass. Sadness shone in her eyes, and Anneth's heart leapt with empathy. She'd never been great with comforting others, but the woman before her had only ever been supportive of her own battles. Anneth placed her hand atop Galyna's.
A small droplet of red liquid cascaded down her chin, and the blonde wiped at it furiously. A stain on her blouse, and Parker would ridicule her. Even as she was so upset with the man, she still instilled the expected behavior placed on her.
“There was a heart by her name.” She choked out after the tangible silence. A beat. "I still love him, but I can't, I don't know." She choked back a sob. Anneth didn't know how to respond.
Dinner ended solemnly and after a strenuous discussion, both said their goodbyes. They approached their cars. With one final wave, Anneth drove off towards her apartment. She'd get the text thread the next morning. The proof, the raw pain, the agony of not knowing how to proceed.
Neither would know that a week later, once the papers were served, Parker would enact his own personal hell upon Galyna. In the form of obsession.
Tuesday, October 7th, 2026 6:00p.m.
Torturous minutes ticked by on the aged clock ahead of her, and Anneth grew more concerned. Sweat trickled down her neck, and she pulled at her blouse to gather some air. She’d send another text, and in a few minutes, she’d call again.
The waitress slipped a glass of Cabernet in front of her, and she mumbled a polite ‘thank you.’ Absently, she traced the glass edge in hopes to quell the impending nerves. Anneth tapped the screen of her phone twice to reveal the time.
6:15 p.m.
There was no need to panic. She’d told herself this multiple times. Galyna was a strong woman. Stronger now than she ever was, especially since Dr. Nastka had entered the picture. She'd been told of her tactics, and had seen the growth from just a few sessions. She'd begun to take her power back after a long, emotional battle.
But she knew about the text messages. The ones Galyna refused to show anyone else, and it only edged her further into her anxiety riddled state. Anneth had read the books, she’d done the homework. She knew the dangers. Yet, time and time again, Galyna assured her of the harmlessness her ′soon-to-be’ ex husband exuded.
The text messages weren’t harmless, She thought.
Another glance at the door. Nothing.
Anneth brought the phone to her ear, expecting a ringtone, or a voicemail. When all she heard was a dial tone, she immediately hung up, and rang Galyna’s mother.
Something was wrong.
Sheri answered on the third ring, and sprung into action. She told Anneth to start driving to Galyna’s apartment, and to notify her when she arrived. Sheri never took to Parker’s manipulation tactics, so Anneth knew she would understand the severity of the situation. And Sheri knew her daughter, how she rarely strayed from routine
Anneth’s breath hitched in her throat, and she hung up Sheri. For a moment, she wondered if she were being silly about this. That Lyn was just caught up in traffic, and would arrive through the doors. The pit in her stomach told her otherwise.
Without another thought, she sprung from her seat and reached into her clutch. She flung a few ten dollar bills onto the table, and exited the Olive Garden.
Saturday August 7th, 2025. Hammerhead Beach. Portland, Oregon
The sun shone bright in the sky, on one of the hottest days of the year. She' d finally gotten the weekend off of work, and she was desperate to relax in the sun. She knew work had been demanding of her time, but she thought it would be worth it in the long run. As she spread her mahogany towel onto the sand, she felt Galyna's presence next to her. A smile crept onto Anneth's lips when she did the same with her own towel.
"I know that it was supposed to be just us, but Parker is on his way with a friend." She started, and Anneth sighed.
She wasn't angry with her, just disappointed. Anneth had to bring Parker along last Tuesday with her, and she wanted to be able to chat with her about more personal things as of late. She'd been skipped for the promotion, and her colleagues had belittled her contribution to the project once again.
"It's alright, Lyn, I understand." She responded, settling onto the ground.
She made a slight adjustment to her pastel bathing suit, and adjusted her sunglasses onto her face. As she laid down, forgetting all of her recent stresses, Galyna mimicked the movements, but remained seated. From the corner of Anneth's eyes, she saw her fidget with her hands. A nervous tick.
Why was she on edge at the beach? She wondered. They were supposed to be relaxing.
Anneth closed her eyes, and let her mind wander further into nothingness. She hadn't been conscious of how much time had passed, but it was the quick shout of Galyna's name that caught her attention.
When she opened her eyes, she saw that more people had accumulated onto the beach, and Galyna was standing upright facing someone. Her body was stiff, and she felt a wave of tension from her direction.
"There you are. I've been looking everywhere for you. What are you wearing?" His voice boomed, and Anneth saw her friend flinch slightly, before pulling him in for a hug. When Parker pulled away, and raised a brow, Anneth sat up.
"Come, grab a seat." Anneth spoke up, and patted Galyna's towel.
The couple seemed to relax slightly, and both too their respective seats on her towel. The air didn't seem to thin out the rest of the time they spent there. Anneth could only wonder, never ask. She did however, hear the faintest grunt of disapproval and some choice words about her friends attire.
Tuesday: October 7th, 2026 6:30p.m. Portland, Oregon
Anneth sped through the streets of Portland, desperate to reach her friend’s place. She needed confirmation that Galyna was okay. Her speedometer read fifty miles an hour, and she was certain if a cop had been present, she would have been arrested. She’d never been so reckless before.
Galyna’s apartment building was secure, and only a select few were allowed onto her floor. The perks of owning an art gallery benefited her friend more often than not. Anneth prayed that this amenity...had worked today as she rushed to the clerk’s desk.
Maybe something did happen, but she’s just shook up about it. That’s why she didn’t answer, She told herself.
The woman at the desk worked painfully slow at gathering her information, despite word vomiting the situation. Anneth could only tap her fingers against the linoleum in frustration. A quick glance at the clock had goosebumps bubbling on her skin.
6:45p.m.
This wasn’t the time to blow up, not when Galyna’s well being was in question.
Once the lady handed her a visitor’s pass, she ran to the stairs. She brought the pass to the black square next to the door. A blatant sigh of relief escaped when she saw the green light appear. Anneth wasted no time, fleeing up the three flights of stairs to her friend’s floor.
Galyna’s hallway felt empty, hollow. Soft carpet cushioned her heavy footsteps. The air was still, and the light above her door flickered with eeriness. Anneth’s heart pounded in her throat, and she bit back a sob. None of this felt normal. None of it felt right.
Anneth’s footsteps faltered as she approached apartment 416. The door was slightly ajar, and it looked as if the lock had been broken. The scene in front of her, confirmed her deepest fear.
Anneth’s brain, aware of the danger ahead, begged for her to stay put. To dial 911. To wait for someone more equipped, someone more inept to handle such a heavy situation.
This wasn’t a situation though, not a normal one where the victim wasn’t connected to her. This was someone she cared about. Her feet, however, hovered just before the threshold.
She leaned into the apartment further, scanning briefly for any immediate threat. She wasn’t a large woman, but she stood at five foot seven. She could handle herself for the most part. Hopefully.
When she saw no movement, she ventured inside, careful not to touch anything. The room was small, Galyna wanted a studio. Something that fit her, and only her. It was the one thing she demanded when she started looking for a place of her own.
The divorce had been brought upon in light of infidelity on Parker’s part. Though, from their Tuesday night conversations, it was something that had built up over the years. The relationship had taken a toll on Galyna, and she needed space for herself. Anneth knew she needed it to be able to heal.
The small desk in the corner of her room caught her attention. Galyna wrote constantly there, she noticed her diary. It was open, the pen sprawled across the center. Shivers ran down her spine, and she examined the desk further. A deep mahogany, with a few scratches on the legs.
Toaster! Galyna’s cat!
“Toastie!” Anneth called out, praying the fat bastard would respond to her call.
He never did, the bastard, but he needed to. She tried a few more times before getting onto her knees. Checking under the couch, she found no sign of the cat in its usual hiding spot.
Fear encapsulated Anneth’s movements, and made it difficult to bring herself to her feet. With shaky hands, she dug her phone from her purse, and dialed three numbers before bringing it to her ear.
She’d gone numb when the dispatcher answered. Reality sunk into her bones, and she repeated the events leading up to her entering her friend’s apartment. She bit her lip to keep it from trembling.
This couldn’t be real. It just couldn’t.
As the dispatcher was giving her directions, she strayed further into the apartment, and peered over to the bathroom door. It was the only other room in the apartment, and that door was cracked open.
“Ma’am? Did you hear me? I need you to stay on the line.”
The voice brought her from her daze and she shook her head. After she whispered a faint ‘okay’ to the woman, she pushed the door open completely. The phone slipped from her hand as her eyes took in the scene before her. She could hear the woman’s voice from the floor.
Anneth began to hyperventilate. Her lungs couldn't produce enough oxygen, and the feeling of suffocation took over. Her eyes couldn't focus on anything, and the blood pounding inside of her ears did little to help distinguish the operator's voice.
“Ma’am, I need you to stay on the phone with me until the police arrive. Okay?”
One strangled scream erupted from Anneth’s throat. Heartbreak, horror, and agony coated the walls of her throat. Her hands shook ferociously.
“Ma’am?” The dispatcher called out to her. She couldn’t answer.
Tears welled in her ducts, and lined her cheekbones in sleek rivulets. She couldn’t speak, she couldn’t breathe. Her heart sank into the deepest pits of hell at the sight of her best friend. Panic fully set in, and she fell to the ground. Painful sobs wracked her body. Anneth buried her face in her hands. The most recent image, haunting every millimeter of her brain. Searing in it, an agonizing memory.
Galyna, face down, in a pool of blood.
******************
Dear Diary, October 14th 2026, 4:20p.m
It's been seven days. One hundred and sixty eight hours. Ten thousand and eighty minutes. Six hundred thousand and eight hundred seconds. There are no words to describe the feelings I've felt in that time frame, only words to describe how much time has passed. I never wrote in a diary. I never expressed my thoughts in writing. I didn't understand the impact that it could have, or the benefit.
Yet, today, as I sit here, in my room, I'm surrounded by the seemingly thousands of entries made by Galyna. I don't understand how she was able to so meticulously document her life, but right now, I couldn't be more thankful that she had.
It's like a piece of her is still with us. In the words she wrote, in the stories she told. Mainly to herself. I can't help but laugh at some of the entries. Others, it takes all of my willpower not to cry. Guilt, that's something Dr. Nastka told me would be common in this process. She told me she's experiencing it herself.
The investigation is still open, and we all know who's responsible, but Sheri insists that we hold our tongues. She never said to put down the pen, though. And Galyna, she'd pick one up at any hour. So that's what I'll do. I'll pick up the broken pieces of my shattered soul, my pen, and I'll write to the whole world.
They'll know his name, and they'll know her hidden rage. More importantly, they'll know how she loved.
Sincerely,
Anneth (A Woman Reborn)
Tuesday: October 7th, 2028 Washington, D.C
The lights of the auditorium blinded Anneth as she stepped onto the stage. Her heart thumped, and blood rushed to her ears. The amount of support, and love she'd received in two years had been overwhelming. Awe-inspiring, nonetheless, but overwhelming. She'd been able to bottle her emotions inside of her just enough to get through the announcement of Galyna's book, but this was different.
The book had been published, and her friends words had spoken to millions in the first week. The support and love had been unreal. This time, she would be reading the words that Galyna once wrote herself. In front of America. Memories would flood, and her heart would break again. Nerves entwined themselves within her veins, and she took a deep breath.
Once Anneth realized how Galyna's story had resonated with so many others, she had fallen into the tragic rabbit hole of how unjust the reality truly was. Anneth had quit her job a few months after the murder, and dedicated all of her time with Sheri into raising awareness of Galyna's story.
They'd been lucky with Parker's quick conviction, but that hadn't been the case for far too many others. It needed to change, it had to. This kind of suffering, no one should experience it.
She admired Sheri, and the pure strength she exuded. The woman had been incredible in the first year, and both of them worked tirelessly to put together a foundation in Galyna's name. Anneth had never held so much respect for one person. Even now, she'd been rocking the political world.
The outpour of support motivated the women further. Sheri'd gotten in contact with lobbyists in the capitol, and Anneth had helped design a few bills intended for prevention of further crimes towards women. The battle still raged on in that area, but she'd grown more confident in the past year.
She was determined, not just to reach a point of justice in the broken system, but to keep the memory of her friend alive. Getting her words out there in the form of a book, reassured that her memory would be preserved. That was all she wanted.
The podium stood in the center of the stage, and as she neared the microphone, her hands began to shake with emotion. It felt as if Galyna were with her, holding her hand. A smile tugged at her lips, and she placed her hands on either side, leaning in. Anneth took a shaky breath, and thanked everyone for their attendance, before glancing at the sleek hardcover before her. Galyna's blonde hair, and glittering blue eyes painted the cover, and her heart swelled at the memory the picture held. She'd just graduated, and she radiated with pride.
As her eyes scanned the crowd, taking in the overwhelming amount of young women and children. Some eyes glowing with hope, others, a dull sadness. One Anneth felt all too well. She ran a hand softly over the book once more before turning to the first page. She fumbled a bit, and the microphone screeched. Anneth flinched, and murmured an apology.
There were slight reassurances, as well as well wishes, but as she looked up once again, she saw vulnerability. This was a place of solace, a place of healing. She let the words flow from her lips. Each date sparked a new emotion inside of Anneth.
Each entry felt like a piece of who Galyna was as a person, not who Parker had skillfully crafted her into. She'd let the tears fall just as freely when she reached October 7th.
“Maybe it had something to do with the craftsmanship, the skill, he possessed. I don’t think I’ll truly ever know. I do know, however, that the ‘It gets easier’ thing...isn’t linear.” She began, choking back a sob.
"To be true to myself, I need to stick with my own decisions. Not ones curated through emotional persuasion."
"Healing, it isn't linear. It's rough, it's bleak, its hopeless nights. Healing can be so many things at one time, or it can be nothing at all. It can be dancing in a crowded club, or it can be laying, desolate on the bathroom floor. It can be a million emotions, or equivalent to the blankness of a sheet of paper. There's no defined timeline, all it takes, is time. Thank you for taking the time today, to hear the words my best friend wrote. To listen to her story, in her own words. Words will never express the gratitude I feel for being able to keep her memory alive."
Her lungs inhaled a much needed breath, and she wiped the stray tears from her cheeks.
Flashbacks of their time with one another burned in the back of her mind, and she paused. Anneth took one last look at the people before her, a mix of pride and grief swelled inside of her. Change could happen.
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