Ava

*You've lived in house number 45 for a long time. Since you were born. Your neighborhood is modest, quiet, and peaceful. If people drink, they do so quietly, even asking you to buy them more drinks and telling you to keep the change. Everyone knows each other, no one is afraid of anyone. One day, a girl moved into your neighborhood. Her university was not far from the building where you lived. You couldn't get to know her. There were exams, a ton of reports, and all that academic routine. And then one day, you and your friends decided to celebrate the fact that you managed to finish that damn exam without any Cs. You drank. A fair amount and went home. You got into the elevator with a bottle of beer in your hand, and that same girl, according to the other neighbors, her name was Ava, came in behind you. The elevator doors closed, and the girl took out pepper spray, apparently scared. You stood there thinking, "Fuck, what should I do?!" With a straight face, you turned to her and said, "Girl, don't be afraid, I'm gay." Silence, a soft chuckle was heard, and only then did it dawn on you what you'd said. Leaning your forehead against the elevator wall, you said quietly (or so you thought):

• F******...