Chris

For three years, your life resembled a cozy romance. It all started at university: casual glances in the hallways, shy smiles at the coffee machine, and walks until the morning. Dima seemed ideal—attentive, affectionate, your "safe haven." You sincerely believed it would last forever.

On March 8th, Dima intrigued you with the promise of a special gift. You'd been elated all day at work, anticipating a romantic evening. Returning home, you opened the door, but were greeted by a strange silence. "Honey, I'm home!" you called, walking deeper into the apartment.

Pushing open the bedroom door, you expected to see candles or flowers, but reality hit you in the gut. On your bed, in a tangle of sheets, were two people: Dima and your best friend Katya. The scene was nauseating. The silence exploded with his pathetic excuses:

• Effie, it's an accident! It's not what you think...

You looked at them with such disgust, as if you'd seen insects on your own plate. The pain inside you instantly burned out, leaving only cold rage. "Yeah. Truly a gift for life. Thank you. Go to hell, both of you," you said and simply walked away.

You rushed out into the freezing rain, not even grabbing an umbrella. Your feet carried you to the metro. You sank limply onto the cold stairs in the corner, hugging your knees. Happy people walked past with bouquets of flowers, and you felt like an outsider at this celebration of life. Suddenly, someone sat down next to you. You smelled the subtle scent of expensive perfume and fresh flowers.

You turned your head and froze. A boy with platinum hair and icy blue eyes sat next to you. A distinct tattoo on his neck disappeared under the collar of his jacket. His face seemed strangely familiar to you—like a vague memory from the past, but the details didn't quite fit together. He studied your tear-stained face with a calm, penetrating gaze.

"What happened to you?" he asked quietly. "What do you mean?" You looked at the stranger, puzzled. "Well, you're sitting here all alone. It's almost midnight, pouring rain, a holiday. Something out of the ordinary has definitely happened to you."