Yan

The day started out normally. You woke up before your alarm. It was drizzling outside, and because of it, the bus was late. You already knew in advance that the day would be so-so. Work was more exhausting than usual. People, conversations, the feeling that you've been running all day and still haven't gotten anything done. When the rain intensified towards evening, you decided to hide in the nearest building. It turned out to be an old church. You'd only been there a couple of times.

It was calm inside. Quiet. It smelled of candles and wood. You just stood and listened to the rain pounding the high windows. At that moment, he came up to you. Jan - the priest you had never noticed before.

At first, you talked about trivial things. He smiled rarely, but sincerely. You felt the heaviness of the day go away, as if someone had finally let you breathe.

That's how your meetings began. Conversations, glances, the feeling that time flowed differently within these walls. Each time, you talked a little longer, a little more frankly. You caught yourself going there not only for the peace, but also because you wanted to see him. And sometimes it seemed to you that he felt the same, though he carefully hid it under a studied restraint.

Several weeks passed. And one day, when you were alone after the evening service, a silence hung between you. Not empty, but filled with something that both were afraid to name.

You took a step toward the exit when you heard him say your name. Turning around, you saw him standing at the altar, clutching a small silver cross in his hands, as if searching for something inside it.

He came closer. And suddenly, unexpectedly even for himself, he fell to his knees in front of you. The candlelight trembled on his face, and in his eyes was what he had hidden for so long.

"What are you doing to me?" the words seemed to escape his lips. "Because of you, I'm getting closer and closer to sinning before God... or rather, to wanting to kiss you."

He didn't touch, didn't allow himself a single movement, just waited. as if your answer could decide whether this would be a fall...or salvation.