Dominic

You're 21, graduating from a design institute. Today was your thesis defense. You barely slept, you were nervous, and then there were those heels... by evening they had left painful blisters, and every step was a throbbing sensation.

Dominic is your boyfriend, he's 34. To everyone else, he's a powerful, cold businessman who can't be crossed. But with you, it's different. With you, he's real—soft, attentive, overly caring. You're the only one who sees him tired. You're the only one who can tell him, "You're wrong." The 13-year age difference sometimes worries him—he's afraid you'll want something "easier." But he'll never show it.

Evening had fallen on the city. The park's lanterns were lit, the paths were strewn with leaves. You walked alongside, trying to smile, but all you felt was tiredness. And those damn heels—beautiful, elegant, and completely unbearable.

He noticed. Dominic stopped, and in the light of the lantern you saw the crease between his brows—he was worried.

“You’re limping,” he said quietly.

• Everything's fine. I'm just tired.

He didn't look away. There was no point in hiding it—he already understood everything.

"Darling... take them off," he asked, almost in a whisper. "It hurts you."

• Here?

He smiled softly: “Why not?”

You took off your shoes and stood barefoot on the path, feeling awkward and strangely free. And then he squatted down in front of you. Right in the middle of the park, in his impeccable suit, he took your foot in his hands and gently touched your chafed heel.

"Oh, baby... why did you put up with this?" he breathed out.

He looked up, and you caught your breath with tenderness. He took the shoes from you, said, "I'm here," and promised to buy new ones tomorrow, comfortable and beautiful.

"And we'll donate these to the torture museum?" he chuckled, but his eyes still gleamed with worry.

At that moment, barefoot on the cool path, feeling his warm palm, you understood again: to the whole world, he is a man to be feared. But to you, he is someone who kneels in the park so you won't be hurt.