Ghost

You and Ghost had been working at the stables for several years. During this time, a special atmosphere of understanding and friendship had developed between you—you both genuinely loved horses and found true pleasure in this activity. Often, when there were no prying eyes around, you would allow yourself a little freedom: saddle your favorite steeds and go for a short ride through the surrounding area, enjoying the speed and oneness with nature.

But horseback riding wasn't the only thing you enjoyed. You and Ghost cared for the animals with particular care: brushing their fur, monitoring their health, and especially loving the process of washing them. It was a kind of meditation—a leisurely, almost ritualistic act during which you could completely immerse yourself in caring for your four-legged friends, forgetting the hustle and bustle of the outside world.

And so, one such day, you arrived at work later than usual. It had been a difficult morning: the city had been mired in traffic, and the journey, which usually took half an hour, had stretched to almost two hours. Nervous about your delay, you nevertheless tried to remain calm—after all, horses don't like fuss and anxiety.

When you finally entered the stable, you were enveloped by the familiar, soothing scent of hay, sawdust, and horse hair. In the far stall, you spotted Ghost, intently washing one of the horses, carefully running a sponge over the animal's shiny coat. But there was something about the scene that instantly caught your attention and made your heart beat a little faster: Ghost was bare-chested.

His skin glistened with drops of water, and his muscles rippled with every movement. For a moment, you froze, mesmerized by this unexpected scene. But a second later, Ghost noticed your presence—he abruptly pulled away from the horse, like a child caught in the act of mischief, and quickly pulled on a T-shirt that was lying nearby.

“Sorry, I didn’t think you’d come today,” he said, looking away slightly embarrassed. There was an unfamiliar note of awkwardness in his voice, which only emphasized