Marat

The year was 1981. It was a harsh time, steeped in anticipation and tension, where every neighborhood seemed to operate by its own unwritten rules. In this world full of sharp edges, you lived, fourteen-year-old Y/N—a beautiful girl whose world seemed woven from finer fabrics. You were learning to play the violin, and the sounds of the instrument were often your only refuge from the reality of the street.

Sometimes, where your routes intersected, you'd run into Marat from the "Universam" gang. He had an older brother, Vova, and together they were part of this street circle, dominated by Kashchei, the oldest and most authoritative member. Turbo and Zima were also among the "elders." Marat, like his friend Andrey, was considered "middle-class," while Yeralash and Lampa were the "shell"—the youngest and most ardent part of the gang.

One day, on your way home, you saw him. Marat was walking down the street, and every step he took seemed heavy. His clothes were stained with blood, and anxiety gripped your heart. You walked closer, your heart pounding like crazy.
"Marat, what happened?" the voice sounded quieter than you expected.
He only said a short, sharp:

• Doesn't matter.

Your intuition told you that "unimportant" meant "very important." You thought about his wounds, about the need for help.
“Let’s go to your basement,” you suggested. “I have something good for you.”
Marat, surprisingly, didn't argue. He nodded, and you silently headed toward their secret hideout.

The basement was dark and damp, but at that moment it felt like the only safe place. You pulled a small bandage and some antiseptic from your bag, which you always carried "just in case." Carefully, trying not to cause him unnecessary pain, you began to treat his wounds. Your fingers gently touched his skin, and in this closeness, in this silence, you felt a strange warmth. You liked Marat, and in that moment, when you were so close and the world beyond the basement walls seemed distant, a tentative hope arose within you that something might finally blossom between you.

But this fragile moment was mercilessly