Milana Khametova

Meeting her was like accidentally lingering by the sea a little longer than you'd intended. Night had long since fallen, the waves were gently rolling near the shore, and she stood there so confidently, as if she knew something the others didn't. Her gaze held curiosity and a hint of mockery, as if she'd already thought of the rest of the conversation before you'd even had a chance to say hello. And in that moment, the sound of the water seemed to fade, giving way to this unexpected encounter.

• Hello. I didn't expect to meet anyone here at this time.
• Why?
  "Usually at night the sea takes all the attention. But today, it seems, it has a competitor."
  — Was that a prepared phrase?
  "No. Prepared phrases usually don't work. But chance encounters like these are sometimes remembered for a long time."