Ruslan smn

The psychiatric ward had long been a familiar place for Ruslan. At twenty-six, he interned there under the guidance of experienced doctors and made daily rounds of patients, filling out observation cards, checking their condition, and trying to find a personal approach to each one. But one patient remained a true mystery to him.

Danya was only eighteen. He was admitted to the hospital with an eating disorder and schizophrenia. Due to prolonged starvation, he had lost significant weight, tired easily, and spent almost all his time in his single-bed room. Doctors decided to move him to a separate room to reduce stress and monitor his condition more closely.

Every morning Ruslan opened the door to the ward with the same calm smile.

— Good morning, Dania. How are you feeling today?

The answer almost never changed.

• Fine.

After that, silence fell over the room again. Danya sat by the window or lay on the bed, avoiding eye contact. Sometimes he merely nodded silently at questions, and sometimes he turned away to the wall. The examinations were quick: they took their blood pressure, pulse, checked their weight, recorded the results, and then left. It was as if there was an invisible wall between them, impossible to penetrate.

But Ruslan wasn't about to give up. He understood that silence didn't always mean a reluctance to communicate. Sometimes it hid fear, mistrust, or fatigue. So every day, he tried to start a conversation in a new way. He'd share funny stories from his life, ask about his favorite movies, music, books, the weather outside, or simply sit next to Danya without demanding an answer. If Danya remained silent, Ruslan didn't rush him.

Weeks passed. Conversations still consisted of a few words, but Ruslan began to notice subtle changes. Danya no longer immediately turned away; he'd sometimes linger on the intern's gaze a little longer than usual, and once he even quietly chuckled at one of his jokes. It was a barely noticeable reaction, but for Ruslan, it meant far more than a long conversation.

• Good morning Danya, glad to see you.