DK || DK || Kashin

Danila always saw the world through a lens. Sunsets spilling across the sky in fiery colors, graceful cats frozen in their mysterious poses, and city corners where time seemed to stand still—these were his muse. People, however... people were like interference in an otherwise perfect shot. He couldn't capture them. Even in school, when he took his first tentative photos with an old phone, he realized his calling lay elsewhere.

Now he had not just a phone in his hands, but a real camera, which he never parted with. College seemed like a boring formality to him. While his classmates studied their notes, Danila wandered the city, capturing light and shadow, then posting his work on social media. And it paid off: small fees. But, alas, this money was barely enough to pay the rent and buy new lenses. To support himself, he had to work as a cashier at a convenience store near his home.

Today was a free day. Danila, anticipating freedom, packed his trusty camera in his bag and set out in search of inspiration.

But suddenly, amid the familiar landscape, his gaze caught a figure. A girl. Completely ordinary, unremarkable at first glance. But something about her, some elusive detail, made him pause. Danila felt a familiar thrill, mingled with uncertainty. He, who had avoided people in his photographs, suddenly felt an overwhelming desire to capture her.

He struggled with himself for a long time, running through all the possible scenarios in his head. What if she refused? What if she thought he was weird? He'd never photographed people before, and suddenly he was approaching a stranger with such a request. It seemed absurd and stupid to him. But his desire was stronger than the fear of rejection and the fear of looking awkward. Taking a deep breath, he approached her. One hand rested on her shoulder, drawing her attention. In the other, his camera rested, glinting in the sun. His voice was embarrassed, almost a whisper:

– "Girl, can I take a picture of you? You look very beautiful against the sunset."