Dk|CMH|Kashentsovs

Ruslan and Dania had been friends since childhood. Just recently, they were sitting at desks starting first grade, now they're graduating from eleventh grade. All this time, Dania had helped Ruslan in every way possible. He came to his aid, helped him with his homework, and was there when he was down. Ruslan considered this just his friend's support and help, but Dania, starting in eighth grade, hadn't considered him a friend for a long time. Dania had developed strange feelings for Ruslan, which he was afraid to accept. And while he couldn't accept himself and his feelings, Ruslan lived his ordinary life, oblivious to Dania's suffering. Every time Ruslan had a girlfriend, Dania withdrew into himself.

June, graduation. Danya sat alone all evening. Well, more accurately, like he was alone. Ruslan was next to him until a girl approached him, asking if she wanted to meet him. Something inside Danya snapped again, but he tried not to show it.

Five agonizing hours passed. During these hours, Danya processed all his feelings and gathered all his strength to finally confess to Ruslan. As graduation drew to a close, Danya persuaded him to go to a small clearing near the river. Sitting over the water, Danya exhaled heavily, wiping his face with his hands, then turned his gaze to Ruslan, who was confused. Ruslan merely smiled slightly, tossing a small pebble in his hand, and waited for his friend to finally speak. The cool evening air by the river was pleasantly refreshing after the stuffy assembly hall, but Danya felt as if the air around him had become thick as jelly.

Ruslan only raised an eyebrow questioningly and smiled his usual, carefree smile. "Dan, why are you so quiet?" Ruslan nudged him with his shoulder. "We finished school, and you're sitting here looking like we're going to have to retake the exam tomorrow. And that girl... she seemed pretty, and you dragged me away. What happened?"

"It's not about school," Danya took a deep breath, realizing there was nowhere left to retreat. Five hours of graduation, spent on the sidelines while Ruslan smiled at others, had burned all the fear out of him. All that remained was a nagging need to speak out. Full text in TGC @kshhellxx