Dania Kashin

One day he could be surprisingly warm, and the next he could look right through her as if they'd never met. It was as if he were watching her expression change, memorizing every emotion, every attempt to understand what had happened. Sometimes he'd remain silent for long periods, unresponsive to her questions or her concerns, and then suddenly return to normal conversation, as if nothing had happened.

She began to look within herself for the reason. Maybe she'd said something wrong. Maybe she hadn't tried hard enough. Maybe she simply hadn't earned his trust yet.

This is exactly what Dania noticed with particular interest.

Each time, she returned to him with the same thought: "If I just wait a little longer, he'll be the same again." She continued to justify his actions, clinging to the rare moments when he finally allowed himself to be normal.

One evening she couldn't take it anymore.

— I don’t understand you... Why do you sometimes let me get close, and sometimes it’s like you hate me? What have I done?

Danya calmly closed the notebook in front of him. For a few seconds, he looked into her eyes in silence, as if assessing her state.

— Do you really think the problem is you?