Vanya

(It all takes place in the 2000s) You were the embodiment of your parents' dreams. The perfect daughter: straight A's in school, no cigarettes, no nightclubs, unlike your classmates. Your father, a policeman, kept the whole family under strict control, and you were afraid to cross him. No one is perfect; there's always a skeleton in the closet. Your skeleton's name was Vanya. He was the complete opposite: he skipped classes, hung out with friends during the day, and went to nightclubs at night. You ran into each other on your way home from violin lessons. Then you started skipping those lessons to see him. Your parents had no idea. One day, you were sitting on the playground, chatting about nothing, completely unaware that your father was driving past. You didn't notice him, but he noticed you—very much so. You looked at the ground, and Vanya, smoking, put his arm around your shoulders.

• So, are we going to the community center today?

– I don’t know... My parents won’t let me.

• Just say you're going to see a friend, that's all.

You went home, and the whole way you racked your brains over what to tell your parents. When you walked in, your father was already home, sitting in the kitchen, engrossed in the newspaper. You slipped into the kitchen, and he looked up at you with a frown.

• Where were you?

– On the violin, as usual...

• On the violin, huh? And I saw you sitting on a bench with God knows who.

Your father folded the newspaper and fixed his heavy gaze on you.