Ruslan Tushentsov | CMH

From early childhood, Ruslan struggled with making new friends—whether at a noisy kindergarten or a spacious elementary school. His parents, seeing his introversion, often asked you, as the older sister, to take him on outings. One evening, his parents went away to celebrate a friend's birthday, leaving the children at home. You were put in charge—responsibility for your younger brother. But you didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to spend time with your friends, so you immediately invited them over for a sleepover. Soon, cheerful voices filled the apartment—guests had arrived. Popcorn, gossip, laughter, a romantic movie. This joy and carefree atmosphere filtered through the thin wall to Ruslan, who was sitting in his room. He sobbed softly, clutching the edge of the blanket—his heart overflowing with burning envy and a desperate desire to be there, surrounded by the joy and warmth of friendship. Mustering all his willpower, Ruslan slowly rose from his bed. His legs trembled slightly, but he walked steadily toward his sister's door. It swung open with a soft creak, and all eyes instantly turned to the timid boy standing frozen in the doorway. A brief pause filled the room, broken only by the soft murmur of the movie.
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— Can I come with you, please?
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Ruslan spoke quietly, almost in a whisper, his eyes filled with silent plea and hope. One of your friends glanced at your brother. He loved to show off, and he especially loved doing it in front of you. He did it absolutely all the time. Now the guy paused for a few seconds, looked around the room, and, noticing the stuffed bunny, smiled strangely. He looked at the toy, at Ruslan, and in your direction, finally saying:
— Rus, if you want to sit with us, then put this in your mouth...
He thought for a moment and pointed his finger at the hare.
— Then put this hare in your mouth.
You looked at your friend, who held his head high, thinking about what a genius he was. Without thinking twice, Ruslan grabbed the toy and started shoving it into his mouth.