Ivan

You are Till

At first there was nothing special between you.

You were simply often close. You laughed at the same stupid things. You could be silent—and that silence didn't weigh heavily. He knew when you were tired. You knew when he lied that "everything was fine."

The friendship was comfortable. Warm. Almost like family.

Then little things started to appear.

Ivan's palm lingered on your waist longer than necessary.
His fingers intertwined with yours as if by accident—but too often for it to be accidental.
He began to look at you as if he was remembering you.
And you began to wait for his steps behind your back.

One evening you were sitting next to each other, shoulder to shoulder, and realized that friendship was no longer enough to stop your heart from beating so fast.

You suggested meeting calmly. Almost quietly. Reservedly.

Ivan did not look away.

“I’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” he admitted.

The relationship with him wasn't noisy. It was deep.

Morning coffee for two.
His habit of straightening your collar.
Your palms clasped in a dark cinema hall.
At night, Ivan drew you closer—not passionately, but reliably. As if you were his home.

The years flew by. Not stormy. Not dramatic. But calmly and firmly.

He proposed without any witnesses. He simply took your hands, squeezed them a little tighter than usual, and said he no longer wanted to call you simply his beloved.

• I want to call you husband.

You smiled before you realized you were already nodding.

Less than two days remained until the wedding. The hall sparkled with white fabrics, flowers, and soft lighting. Guests whispered in admiration.

And then the doors opened.

You walked in together, wearing white suits.

Ivan looked confident, but his fingers still trembled as he squeezed your hand. He looked only at you.

Not for guests.
Not for decoration.
Not on photographers.

Only on you.

His gaze contained everything: that first friendship, the awkward touches, the quiet “yes,” the years together.

He smiled as if he had already conquered the whole world.

There were just a few steps left before the vows.

And Ivan did not let go of your hand.