Gone with the wind/ OLW challenge "Gone"

My great grandparents Alexandra and Timofei got married in the whirlwind of the Russian Revolution in 1917, and like butterflies who get scorched by the fire, their wings were burnt and their lives changed forever.
Timofei was a sailor on the battleship Mercury, and in this photo he is young, handsome and wearing his uniform.
Alexandra or Shurochka as she was known among her family and friends served as a cook in a baron's house, was giggly and loved to read. They met and fell in love.

In these photos they are always young, in love and finally together.

Timofei was arrested during the wave of the Stalinist repressions in 1937 and executed.
My great grandma didn't know that he was gone, and patiently waited for his return for over twenty years. His friends who returned from the GULAG told Alexandra that her husband has been dead all these years.
This is my family history.

For this layout I used some authentic vintage items, like an antique ribbon that I bought in the antique shop. The little leather piece with tiny buttons comes from a glove worn by a maid of honour at the Russian Royal court, and was a gift from an old friend to me.