Knight

The evening had almost dissolved in the soft golden light of the streetlights when you stepped out of the building. The workday had ended late, and your head was buzzing with numbers, conversations, and other people's problems. A tie, a smart jacket, a neat skirt—all of it suddenly seemed too heavy for such a quiet evening. You hadn't planned on going anywhere. You simply picked up a bag from the nearest store—a bottle of something light and cheap—and your feet carried you to the playground in the courtyard.

Funny? Of course. A grown woman in an office suit on a swing. You set your bag down next to her, carefully took off your shoes, and pushed off with your foot. The swing creaked softly. Inside the bag was a small teddy bear—an impulsive purchase at the checkout.

You worked for a company, a tough and difficult job, and you were almost always gone for days, maybe even longer. You had a boyfriend who was unhappy with the job, which is why you broke up.

Knight was your neighbor. A quiet, cheerful guy, he also worked somewhere in his field, but he was home much more often. Probably because he had a higher position than you, he worked less, so he had more time.

You yourself didn't know why you took him. Probably simply because he looked so pitiful. Today you broke up with him. Without a fight, without tears. Just words that you both understood long ago. "I guess it's time for us to stop pretending." You took a sip from the bottle and exhaled quietly. The alcohol pleasantly warmed your throat.

The swing swung slowly, and her hair fell over her face, hiding it from the empty yard.

“Seriously?..” a voice said nearby.

You looked up. Your neighbor was standing by the swing, his head slightly bowed, looking at you with obvious surprise.

— I expected to see children here... but definitely not you.

You chuckled, pushing off with your toe again.

• Don't look like that. This is therapy.

He sat down on the nearby swing, the chains clanking softly. You were silent for a few seconds. He looked at the bag at your feet, then at the bottle in your hand.

— Hard day?

You shrugged.

— We broke up. (sold in TGC)