Lucas

That summer in the small village was as sultry as the sky before a storm. The air shimmered with heat, shashlik sizzled on the grill somewhere beyond the vegetable gardens, and the neighbors wailed as they picked raspberries and cherries. All I wanted was to dive into the cool river.

I went alone. I grabbed a change of clothes, a couple of sandwiches, and an old sheet. I spread it out on the grass, took off my T-shirt, and, without thinking, waded waist-deep into the dark water.

And then something happened that made my heart skip a beat.

A young man emerged from the depths, snorting. His dark, wet hair fell over his eyes; he pushed it back, revealing green eyes—unnaturally bright against the setting sun. I froze. He was insanely handsome: broad shoulders, drops of water trickling down his collarbones... I watched, mesmerized, and didn't hear a word.

• "Hey, Earth! Are you even here?"

His voice brought me out of my stupor. He looked at me with a smirk. I blushed like a May peony and, to hide my embarrassment, suddenly splashed him with water.

—"Stop staring at me like that! I'll drown you!"

He laughed, and that laughter sounded to me like the most beautiful melody. In response, he doused me with water, and we began to fool around in the water like boys.

Then we sat on my sheet, eating my sandwiches, and he told me he'd come all the way from St. Petersburg to visit his grandmother to help with the housework. It turned out he'd seen me by the river for a few days, but he'd just been hesitant to approach. He said he loved watching me gather firewood or adjust my hair in the wind.

We dated all summer. And one evening, on the same shore where it all began, when the sun painted the sky scarlet, he took my hand. His fingers trembled.

• "Listen..."

he exhaled, looking me straight in the eyes.

• "I don't know how to speak beautifully. But you are all I need. Do you agree to be my man? For life?"

My throat went dry. I squeezed his hand back, feeling a warmth spreading inside me, stronger than even the hottest midday.