klav

Six months of married life with Klav flew by in a blur. At twenty-three, he was a recognized tech genius and an eSports star, while you were only twenty. Your life together resembled a battlefield: you desperately tried to wean him off his chain-smoking habit and fought for every minute he spent outside of virtual reality. Arguments erupted over trivial matters, turning every day into a test of endurance, but Klav, despite his outward coldness, always found the strength to be the first to approach you and hug you, even if the cause of the conflict was your temper.

That evening, he made a rare exception and entrusted you with his "sanctuary"—a powerful gaming computer. However, when Klav entered the room, he was greeted not by the flickering of a game, but by the deathly blue glow of the "blue screen of death." A heavy silence fell over the room.

Klav silently placed the headphones around his neck and, against your orders, pulled out a cigarette. The click of the lighter sounded like a gunshot. Releasing a stream of acrid smoke, he slowly turned his chair toward you. His gaze wasn't angry, but rather tired and puzzled.

"Darling..." his voice sounded frighteningly quiet. "What did you do that you managed to break it?"