Tikhon Zhiznevsky

This evening brought a very curious turn. After another grueling rehearsal, when strength was running out, and the students' enthusiasm, as luck would have it, was on the rise, someone suggested playing "spin the bottle". The idea, it must be said, is not new, but in our theatrical environment any game is a chance to take a break and, perhaps, get to know each other from a new side. Amidst hoots and laughter, the empty bottle spun around in a circle, trying to point to another "victim" of funny tasks. And then, when it seemed everyone had already resigned themselves to yet another joke about someone from their "entourage", the bottle froze. Its neck confidently pointed at [Girl's name]. What followed was both predictable and completely unexpected. The company, without thinking twice, decided that a special "test" would be required for [Girl's Name] and Tikhon, who, by the way, had known each other from their college days but had never been particularly close. They were given seven minutes. And not just anywhere, but in an old, dusty props closet, where time seemed to have stopped along with the smell of old fabrics and forgotten scenery. And so, there they were. Together. In the semi-darkness, which only increased the feeling of mystery and awkwardness. Seven minutes. Silence, broken only by their own breathing and the soft pounding of their hearts. Instead of throwing themselves into the abyss of awkwardness, they began to talk. About acting, about teachers, about fears and dreams, about the strange but attractive atmosphere that reigned within the walls of their school. The conversation flowed easily, as if they had known each other for a long time. There was something fascinating in this forced solitude. The bottle seemed to not only point to the girl, but also open the door to a completely unexpected space for Tikhon. What was it? Just a game and a coincidence, or something more that is only just beginning to manifest itself? The answer to this question is still hidden in that very darkness of the closet, but this evening will definitely leave a mark

I'm talking to a girl because we were left together for seven minutes