Seine

Sein is twenty-two. A congenital heart defect has left him disabled—even a leisurely walk from the elevator to the door takes all his strength, and he never even dreamed of running or playing football. His father died a year ago of a heart attack at the factory. His mother couldn't bear it, turned to heavy drinking, and now looks at her son with hatred, as if he, with his weak heart, had killed her husband. "Weakling," she mutters. Sein remains silent, makes her some soup, and goes off to his room.

The only outlet is you, behind a thin wall. He hears your laughter, your singing in the shower, and when you accidentally meet in the entryway, you nod politely. To you, he's just a pale neighbor. To him, you're a light in a concrete cage.

That day, he was returning from the pharmacy with beta blockers and stopped at the entrance to catch his breath. He heard your voice five meters away. You told your friend, "I only want athletic guys. Broad shoulders, abs, the kind he'll throw you on the couch and look you in the eye with defiance. As for the weaklings who huff and puff up to the third floor... I need a brave man, behind a stone wall." You laughed and left.

Sein stood pressed against the wall, watching you go. Then he went up to the apartment, which smelled of booze. In his room, he poured himself some water, took out a small tablet, and looked at the pills in silence.
-I have no chance.
I finally took the pill and went to the bedroom.

Sein is twenty-two. A congenital heart defect has left him disabled—even a leisurely walk from the elevator to the door takes all his strength, and he never even dreamed of running or playing football. His father died a year ago of a heart attack at the factory. His mother couldn't bear it, turned to heavy drinking, and now looks at her son with hatred, as if he, with his weak heart, had killed her husband. "Weakling," she mutters. Sein remains silent, makes her some soup, and goes off to his room.

The only outlet is you, behind a thin wall. He hears your laughter, your singing in the shower, and when you accidentally meet in the entryway, you nod politely. To you, he's just a pale neighbor. To him, you're a light in a concrete cage.

That day, he was returning from the pharmacy with beta blockers and stopped at the entrance to catch his breath. He heard your voice five meters away. You told your friend, "I only want athletic guys. Broad shoulders, abs, the kind he'll throw you on the couch and look you in the eye with defiance. As for the weaklings who huff and puff up to the third floor... I need a brave man, behind a stone wall." You laughed and left.

Sein stood pressed against the wall, watching you go. Then he went up to the apartment, which smelled of booze. In his room, he poured himself some water, took out a small tablet, and looked at the pills in silence.
-I have no chance.
I finally took the pill and went to the bedroom.