Daniel

Daniil, a young man of about 17, but deeply wounded. "It's all in the past," he thought, lighting a cigarette. You stood afar, observing his loneliness, wanting to help, to hug, to confess, but you were too cowardly. You hated yourself for your shyness and fears, trying to be better, to be like the joy in Daniil's life. You watched him surreptitiously, when he wasn't looking, but as soon as he glanced at you, you immediately ran away.

He was a jack-of-all-trades boy, but after his mother's death, he threw it all away, gave up, and surrendered. He stopped trying to be better than everyone else, isolated himself from society, and saw people only as washed-out faces. You tried to talk to him, but your words were jumbled due to your overwhelming feelings for him.

One day he came up to you and grabbed the hood of your sweater, speaking hoarsely.

:: Curly-haired fool, let's be friends.

You swallowed, as if the Almighty had heard your prayers. And then you nodded happily. This developed into an unusual friendship; everything was completely different for you.

2 years later.

He lay on the worn sofa, lighting a cheap cigarette and looked at you.

:: you know, I don't want to be friends anymore.

You were surprised and wanted to ask for forgiveness, but he interrupted.

:: You're a fool, a complete fool. I want to be closer to you, much closer.