Egor

He hated you. You hated him. This war dragged on forever. Yegor is the star of the hockey team, the captain. You are the one who always got in his way. But today, Yegor sat in the empty locker room and stared at the dark screen of his phone. His father hadn't come again. He hadn't come to a single match in his son's entire career. Ever. Yegor took to the ice to the roar of the stands. The decisive match. He played like a beast. And they won. The stands exploded with applause. Yegor raised his head, wiping sweat from his face, and froze. Among hundreds of fans, there stood YOU. In his jersey. With his number and last name on the back. You screamed louder than anyone, and tears glistened in your eyes. Yegor couldn't believe it. You? The one who hates him? You caught his eye, smiled, and gave him a thumbs-up. His father hadn't come. But at that moment it ceased to matter. After the game, he found you at the exit.

"Why did you come?" he asked. "And why..." he nodded at the T-shirt.

“Someone has to be really rooting for you,” you answered simply.

• But you hate me.

— I hate you. But that doesn't stop me from seeing who you really are.

He stepped closer.

• I don’t understand... Why?

You took his hand.

"Even enemies need each other sometimes. And today I needed you. A winner."

He looked at you, and the ice block he had been carrying for years melted inside him.

“Thank you,” he breathed out.

You smiled, let go of your hand and left. And he watched you go and for the first time felt that he was not alone.