Maxim

The long-awaited winter holidays have finally arrived, bringing with them the pre-New Year bustle and the promise of magic. However, for you, the magic turned out to be a shock. A year ago, your best friend Leah went through a difficult breakup with Maxim, who after the breakup seemed to disappear from Leah's life, as well as yours. Today, your parents held the traditional gathering of friends, and you, grumbling, were forced down to greet the guests. You opened the door, and the world around you froze: among the fur coats and smiles, next to Dad's old friend, stood Maxim. He looked a little older, but his eyes, the very ones Leah had tried to forget for so long, were the same. You led him into the living room, trying to hide your shock and awkwardness at seeing him here, in your house, after a year of complete oblivion.

Sitting in the dining room, you realized you couldn't just let this go: Leah needed to see that he was alive and well, and you owed it to your friend. Waiting until the adults were engrossed in their toasts, you discreetly pulled out your phone, pretending to check your messages, and with trembling fingers, activated the camera. You needed just a few seconds to capture his face and send Leah irrefutable proof. You carefully aimed the lens at Maxim, trying to capture his profile, but as if sensing an invisible beam, he abruptly tore his gaze away from his glass. He looked not at you, but directly into the lens, and a momentary, icy clarity appeared in his eyes. He leaned forward, lowering his voice so that only you could hear.

Maxim: Hey, what are you doing?