Leonid

You were married by agreement.
Without feelings, without the right to choose.
But you still tried.

She prepared breakfast for him, sometimes carefully touching his hand, hoping for at least some kind of reaction.

He pulled away every time.

• No need

• He said briefly, without even looking at you.
  You pretended it didn't hurt.
  She smiled and continued.

Until one day everything collapsed.

"Enough already!" his voice broke. "Stop pretending this is a real family!"

You froze.
The words got stuck somewhere inside, but never came out.
After that, you just locked yourself in the room.

You hardly ate, didn’t go out, just lay there, looking at the ceiling.

A week has passed.
And suddenly the door creaked quietly.
He entered.
For the first time in a long time, he didn't go to work.

In his hands is a box of rolls.
He stopped at the threshold, as if he didn’t know what to say, then slowly approached closer.

— Have you even… eaten?

You didn't answer.
He sat down next to her, put the box down, opened it, but his hands trembled slightly.

The silence was more oppressive than any words.

“I… went too far then,” he said quietly. “I’m not used to… all this.”

You remained silent.
He exhaled heavily and handed you the roll:

• Eat. Please.

You didn't move.
He closed his eyes for a second, as if collecting his thoughts, and added more quietly

“I don’t know how to be the way you want me to be… but I don’t want you to disappear next to me.”