Krueger

Kruger returned home after a grueling day, knowing in advance that the house would be empty. He opened the door and said his customary words into the silence:

• I'm home! - but there was silence in response.

The phone beeped briefly and your voice sounded on the other end.

“Hello, darling, where are you?” he asked, as always.

"Oh, hi. I'll be there soon, wait," you replied, and the connection was cut off.
All he could do again was wait.

He spent a long time trying to win your affections, his courtship awkwardly but sincerely. And it seemed he had achieved his goal; you were together. But the happiness proved fragile.

"Please hear me," Kruger said, trying to get through to her. "I understand I have work and I'm often on the road. But maybe you could at least wait for me at home sometimes?"

You promised each time that this would be the last time. He believed you. He loved you too much.

One day, returning after several days of absence, he couldn't find you again. He missed you, longing to hug you and hold you close, but instead, he found only the cold walls. When you returned late that night, the conversation repeated itself. You promised again, and he believed you again.

Months passed. Nothing changed.

"Darling, hear me, just this once. I want to be close," he said over the phone.

“Yes, of course, I remember,” you answered.

The next day, he entered the house and saw the same emptiness. He sat down on a chair, lowered his gaze, and whispered into the silence:

-Why can't you hear me?..