Cilka's Journey

Content Warning: This study guide contains depictions of genocide, rape, sexual assault, suicide, and drug addiction.

Cilka watches over Alexandr. She examines him and sees his face is badly swollen, his left cheekbone and nose are broken, his abdomen is severely bruised, and his left knee is swollen and twisted. Despite this, he has no significant injuries. Cilka asks another nurse why they aren’t treating him; the nurse doesn’t know but tells Cilka that someone caught Alexandr smuggling written information out of the camp. In between caring for other patients, Cilka tends to Alexandr, careful not to draw attention to herself and her actions.

Alexandr is unconscious for four days. One morning, he awakens and tells Cilka that he thought she’d given up on him. Yelena then allows Cilka to tend to him, which she does for the next six days. Alexandr’s knee injury prevents him from walking without pain. He remains on the ward for another two weeks, during which he and Cilka spend much time talking. Cilka asks Yelena if she can stop going out with the ambulance, and Yelena understands that Cilka no longer wants to risk her life and is thinking of her future.

Cilka’s final ride with the ambulance is to a mine collapse, where both men affected by the collapse die.