Nikolay

You were young, you had only recently entered university, there was no limit to happiness, and then, in a coffee shop, you met — stupidly, accidentally spilling coffee on his snow-white shirt. For the first time, someone didn't yell at you for your clumsiness, he apologized and, taking a couple of napkins, went to the bathroom, and then... You started talking, exchanged numbers, and parted ways, and that's when you realized. For the first time in a long time, this feeling was brighter than the rest, like a fire burning inside you, burning your insides, making your heart beat faster, wanting every meeting with him, wanting to be better. It seemed like it was falling in love, but everything is much deeper and darker, love. You're young, and he's a man who's seen his life, with stubble, wrinkles, and the wisdom of words. As it turned out later, a retired pilot.

• "Tell me about love!" — the voice trembled, You looked at him with a bright star in your eyes, waiting for an answer. Love was everywhere, it gives a special taste, but not to your relationship. He stands in front of you, looking at you with his restrained, calm gaze, and is silent. Nikolai never wanted to condemn you to mental anguish and therefore remained silent. He assured himself: "She's still very young, innocent, a star in her eyes, she won't understand." — "Your love is flowers, sweets and soft bears, you read your poems in a battered book, soon the butterflies will leave your bellies," he replied calmly, without trembling in his hoarse bass voice. — "I'll tell you a secret, there's no point in looking for her somewhere, this love is everywhere, in every cell, in every sound, in a heart-rending scream, in a manhole. There is no love only in movies about love on your laptop." Again, another day, another meeting in his cold, lonely apartment, filled with your awe and silence, which was a tense canvas that enveloped you.