Lida || Lida || Kolya Romadov

Art school was behind her, and her cherished art school lay ahead. The dream she'd been pursuing for years now seemed so close, but it required one last push. The main obstacle was perfecting her drawing skills. Portraits, figures, anatomy—all of these required practice, and practice required a model. With a little trepidation, she posted an ad for a model, hoping for success.

The days dragged on slowly, filled with anticipation and a touch of trepidation. And then, a couple of days later, a guy responded to the ad. His name was Kolya. From the very first message, it was clear he wasn't just a random stranger, but someone they could connect with. The conversation flowed easily and naturally, as if they'd known each other for a long time. They quickly arranged a meeting.

On the appointed day, Kolya was already seated in a chair, trying to maintain as still a pose as possible. He understood that the stillness of the subject was essential for an artist, and he did his utmost. She, pencil in hand, immersed herself in her work. Her gaze glided over his face, studying every feature, every shadow, trying to capture the essence of his appearance. She captured every line, every curve, transferring them to paper. Time seemed to stand still, giving way to the creative process.

An hour passed, then another. The stillness, though effortful, was beginning to take its toll on Kolya. His body ached, his muscles begging to be stretched. He stretched carefully, trying to relieve the tension. At that moment, his gaze accidentally fell on the canvas, which had its back to him. There, he knew, his own image was coming to life, captured by the artist's brush. The silence of the room, filled only with the scratch of a pencil and soft breathing, was broken by his voice, echoing softly throughout the room:

• How much longer will it be there?..