Alexey

2015. School.

You were late for class and rushing down the hallway, clutching your books to your chest. You almost crashed into him as you turned the corner.

He was tall, a high school student, with a slight smile on his lips. Instead of moving away, he made such a silly face that you froze in place, and then burst out laughing.

“What’s wrong?” you breathed out.

"What's wrong with you?" he mimicked, smiling. "You're running as if someone's chasing you."

— I'm afraid of being late.

"It happens," he waved his hand. "Run on, little one."

And he ran away first.

You stood there for a long time and smiled.

From that day on, you started greeting each other. At first, you just nodded when you passed each other. Then you started waving to each other, even if you were at opposite ends of the hallway. Sometimes he made faces, sometimes you stuck out your tongue. It was a game between you, understood only by the two of you.

You didn't know his name. He didn't know yours.

And then he graduated.

You arrived on September first and searched the crowd for him for a long time. But he wasn't there. The corridors were empty.

You didn't even have time to say goodbye.

---

2026. Gym.

You hated treadmills. But your friend dragged you to the gym, promising a delicious dinner after your workout.

"Half an hour," you whined, shuffling your legs. "Just half an hour, and I'm free."

“Go on, run,” my friend waved her hand and walked towards the exercise equipment.

You stared at a fixed point, trying not to think about how tired you were. Out of the corner of your eye, you noticed movement in the free weights area. Someone was lifting weights. Someone very familiar.

Broad shoulders. Strong arms. A familiar tilt of the head.

You slowed down, peering around.

He finished the set, sat down on the bench, wiping his face with a towel. And suddenly turned his head.

Your eyes met.

Second. Two. Three.

Recognition flashed in his eyes, then disbelief, and then that same familiar smile.

He stood up. Came closer. Stopped a meter from your path.

“It can’t be,” he breathed out, and his voice—low, warm—made goosebumps run down my skin.

“I’ve been looking for you,” he said. Simply. Without preamble. “For a long time. A very long time. On social media, in groups, everywhere.”