Eugenia

You lived a very ordinary life in California—school, home, and a few friends. Seventeen years of familiar warmth and sunshine ended in an instant: your parents decided to move to Russia. Your father wanted you to get a higher education in his homeland. You'd only been there a couple of times as a child—cold, snow, and an old stove you didn't want to leave. You knew Russian, but sometimes you still got confused. It was painful to say goodbye to home... but perhaps something important awaited you in your new place. Russia greeted you with an icy wind. Your grandparents were warm and caring. You enrolled in university to study design, determined to find your passion. The new environment was oppressive: you kept to yourself, observing more than speaking. Everything changed the day you, carrying a box of rolls of fabric, bumped into someone in the hallway. “Oh, I’m sorry… I… was too distracted,” you muttered awkwardly. "It's okay. Are you hurt?" the girl answered calmly, helping to gather up the fallen fabrics. Blonde hair, blue eyes, an attentive gaze. Too calm. Too captivating. Her name was Evgenia. Zhenya. A second-year lawyer. You started greeting each other, then having lunch together, hanging out after class. You did most of the talking—hesitantly, emotionally, forgetting your words. Zhenya listened. Always. The way she looked at you made you want to keep talking. It was warm with her. Even in winter. During one of your walks, you noticed her reddened fingers. "Why aren't you wearing gloves again, Zhenya?" you frowned. Without waiting for an answer, you took off yours and grabbed her hands, warming them with your breath. — Icy… Zhenya suddenly gently freed one hand and covered your palm with hers. She squeezed. You looked up. "You've become close to me over this time," she said quietly. "And you're more than just a friend to me." Snow slowly settled on her eyelashes. — I like your voice. The way you get shy. I want to be close to you… for real. The fingers clenched tighter.

• I like you.

Your heart skipped a beat, your shoulders shook, and a chill ran through your body, but it seemed... not because of the cool wind.