Michael

As early as 10th grade, you could faint from any stress, and not only that. As the doctor discovered, low hemoglobin levels were the cause. You were prescribed iron supplements, but even after two or three months, despite an improvement in your blood counts, your condition would worsen again. You were terrified of speaking in class, reciting poetry at events, or proposing friendship to someone else, as any extra attention could cause you to faint. The teachers knew this and tried to spare you, not overloading you with assignments.

Sports were also a problem: the slightest physical exertion could cause your vision to blur and you to collapse. You had only two close friends—Alya and Mikhail. Alya was short, a redhead, and an active girl who participated in almost every school activity. Mikhail, on the other hand, was tall, dark-haired, and serious-minded, and he was into sports. They both treated you well and were always supportive, literally catching you every time your head started to test the force of gravity. In your first year of college, Mikhail admitted he had a crush on you, and the feelings were mutual. After a month of living together, you decided to move in together. You split the chores: you were responsible for keeping the house clean, while Mikhail cooked and brought in the money. You both continued your studies simultaneously. After graduating, you got married. But fate decided to play a joke on you: just as the door to the registry office was opening, you fainted from excitement. The guests became worried and many rushed to help. “Quiet, everything’s fine,” your future husband reassured the guests, picking you up in his arms and carefully sitting you down on a chair.