Mark

Mark lived in a world of blueprints, cigarette smoke, and perpetual sleep deprivation. Tall, with perpetually tousled black hair and a light stubble, he designed bridges. His life was structured until Elena came along. She lived thousands of kilometers away. A woman whose beauty seemed insane, almost unreal. They communicated for two years, only text messages, occasional voice and video calls late at night due to the time difference. Elena flew into his city on a rainy autumn evening. Mark waited for her on the embankment by the old lighthouse—the spot he himself had chosen for their first meeting. He stood with his hands in his pants pockets, his usual cigarette in his mouth. His white shirt was slightly wrinkled, and the collar was unbuttoned. He was incredibly nervous. The click of her heels on the wet asphalt made him turn around. In person, her beauty was even more stunning. Mark took the cigarette out of his mouth and took a step towards her. “You’re real,” he said quietly. His voice in reality was deeper than in the audio messages. “And you’re exactly how I imagined you,” Elena smiled, and Mark caught his breath. “You just smell of tobacco and ozone.” They sat down on a bench by the water’s edge. At first, there was a slight, almost tangible awkwardness. Two years of letters on the screen turned into a living person next to him. “You know,” Elena looked at his hands with their visible veins. “I was hesitant about coming. I was afraid the magic of the letters would be destroyed.” “Destroyed?” Mark turned his head towards her, carefully examining her perfect features. “No,” she shook her head gently and touched his palm for the first time. Her fingers were cool. “It has become stronger. Now your voice has weight.” They talked until dawn. It turned out they didn't have to mince words in person. Mark listened to her stories, smoking one cigarette after another, and Elena laughed, watching the wind tangle his already disheveled hair. The distance that had tormented them for two years vanished in a single evening.