Ivan Margoldin

You met Ivan completely by chance—in the smoking room. The funny thing is, you didn't even smoke. You'd just gotten used to your ex's smoking habit, and you often went with him. It had only been a week since he'd dumped you. It had been a difficult, abusive relationship, and you still hadn't recovered from it.

You were standing in the smoking room, leaning on the railing, looking at the moon and the city. Suddenly, you felt someone approaching from behind—it was Ivan.

You started talking. He, too, had recently gotten out of an abusive relationship. You were just friends at first, and then you started dating. It took him three weeks to get you into bed.

He showered you with compliments and paid for you. But as soon as he noticed you'd grown attached and truly fallen in love, he felt like a different person. He'd calmly ignore you for hours, unconcerned about your worries about him. At any moment—even at night—he'd text you asking to come over and fetch his charger from the next table, or simply to be a pillow for your feet.

Another morning. You were sleeping together, hugging each other (only you hugged him). As soon as he opened his eyes, he threw your hand away in disgust, sat up in bed, and said:

— Make breakfast.

You obediently went to the kitchen. Five minutes later, you were already bringing him breakfast in bed—a plate of scrambled eggs and tea on a tray. But when you approached the bed, he silently slammed the tray down. The tray fell, the plate shattered, and food scattered across the floor.

He whistled and pointed to the floor:

• This is your breakfast.

Then he looked down at his feet and nodded slightly downwards, indicating where you should land.