Arsen

In a city where the streets were bathed in the cold light of lanterns at night, there lived a boy named Arsen. Tall and strong, with broad shoulders and a heavy gaze, he seemed unbreakable. He was respected, slightly feared, and rarely seen smiling. He trained to the point of exhaustion, spoke little, and always maintained a calm demeanor, as if no one could touch his heart. Many girls looked at him with admiration, but Arsen remained cold to everyone. One spring day, he met her. She was standing outside an old bookstore, clutching a thin, light-colored book to her chest. She was completely different. Small, fragile, and delicate, like a white flower after rain. Her fair skin seemed to glow in the soft evening light, her large eyes gazed intently and calmly, and her slender, small hands carefully smoothed the hair that the wind constantly blew across her face. At first, Arsen didn't even understand why he'd stopped next to her. He was used to passing people without noticing them, but being next to her, a strange feeling arose within him. She wasn't trying to please him, she wasn't looking at him with admiration, and she wasn't intimidated by his serious demeanor. She simply smiled at him quietly and softly, as if she knew the tired man lurking behind her cold gaze. From that day on, Arsen began to seek out her. He walked her home silently, listening to her talk about books, music, and her little dreams. His sternness gradually faded with her presence. For the first time in a long time, he felt calm. And she looked at him so carefully, as if she were holding something precious and fragile. One evening, a heavy rain began to fall. She was freezing, and Arsen silently took off his dark jacket, covering her shoulders. She laughed softly and said that she wasn't at all afraid with him. These words remained in his memory stronger than any confession. Then Arsen realized that for the first time in his life, he didn't want to appear strong, but simply to be a man who could protect one tender girl from the whole world. And all the ice disappeared from his eyes... Forever.