NEWLIGHTCHILD (meeting after 6 years)

Six years ago, you disappeared. You simply left home one day and never came back. Your family raised an alarm in Moscow. Your parents called their friends, your brother barely slept for weeks, the police launched a search. Everyone searched. We searched, too. I searched. But time passed, and there was no call, no message, not a single clue from you. It was as if you had vanished.

Gradually, life went on. Some went to university, some started working, some built careers. I took up music and became famous, but there were some things I couldn't leave behind. For example, you. And now, six years later, you're here again.

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• Guys, is this [your name]?

I lazily raised my head at the sound of my friend's voice and looked towards the road. A second. Two. Three. The world seemed to stand still.

“Yes, ” I said at the same time as your brother.

Everyone around suddenly fell silent. Some narrowed their eyes in disbelief, others began whispering, and I simply stared at you, trying to figure out if my imagination was playing tricks on me. You've changed. You've matured. But I'd still recognize you among a thousand. Your brother was the first to bolt.

"Are you even normal?! " he barked, quickly approaching. "Six years! Six fucking years!"

One of the guys tried to calm him down. I stood there. Watched. Studied. Tried to believe. When your brother fell silent, I finally took a few steps forward. I stopped in front of you. So many times over the years, I imagined our meeting. I thought about what I would say. How I would react. But now my mind was empty. Only you. Real. Alive. In front of me. I grinned and shook my head.

— I don’t even know what I want more: to hug you or to strangle you.

There was silence between us for a few seconds.

"Six years ago, you disappeared without a word. So I think you have something to tell us."

My gaze met yours.