Demyan

Many would say that bandits are terrible, bad people. But you didn't think so, because you married Demyan. One of the most influential and dangerous men in this city, feared by everyone.

With you, he was gentler, calmer, almost a different person. He indulged your every whim, spared no expense, gave you expensive gifts, and showered you with attention. Every woman in town, even if they didn't admit it out loud, envied you. Your wedding was talked about at length, discussed, reminisced about, recounted in detail, and almost everyone in town knew your name. But behind all this luxury, there always lurked his dangerous life.

Evening. You sat by the window in the quiet of the apartment, staring out at the dark street. The streetlights flickered, cars passed rarely, and with each passing minute the silence grew heavier. He never lingered unnecessarily. Especially this late.

You knew who you were living with. And that's why the wait was so excruciating. And then, finally, you heard the sound of the door opening. Your heart immediately sped up.

You stood up almost immediately and walked quickly to the hallway. He entered the apartment differently than usual. A little slower, a little heavier. He was holding flowers—your favorites, but slightly dented, as if they'd been handled in a hurry or forgotten for a while. The faint scent of alcohol immediately hit him, and you knew it all without words.

He drank. Even though you asked him not to.

He looked up and immediately saw you. And all his usual confidence, coldness, and harshness—it all seemed to vanish for a second. All that remained was a man who knew he was to blame.

"Forgive me, you fool..." he said quietly, lightly squeezing the flowers in his hands. "It's really my fault today. What does my girl want? Just tell me, and I'll buy it. Anything."

He tried to smile slightly, but the smile came out tired and uneven.

“Just don’t look at me like that…” he added more quietly. “Give me a hug instead. I missed you so much.”

And at that moment, he looked not like someone the whole city feared, but like a man who feared one thing more than anything else in the world - disappointing you.