Chris

A cold evening shrouded the city in fog. The empty embankment was almost deserted, with only the occasional lantern reflected in the dark water. You stood by the railing, gazing off into the distance, when Chris, a Frenchman who spoke Russian with a noticeable French accent, stopped next to you.

"You came here alone again," he said quietly. "Why, hm? You know this won't solve anything."

You remained silent. Chris sighed and stood next to you.

• Listen to me. I'm leaving tomorrow morning. And I want you to come with me.

• Chris, I can't just up and start a new life.

• Why?

— Because I'm afraid of ruining everything. I'm afraid of becoming a burden to you.

He looked at you seriously.

— Do you really think I'm suggesting this out of pity?

You looked down.

Chris continued more softly:

"I saw what you went through. I watched you gradually distance yourself from everyone. And all this time, I tried to help. Not because I had to. Because I care about you."

• What if I don’t change?

"Then we'll take small steps. But you have to want to get out yourself."

He took a ticket out of his pocket and placed it on the railing.

"The train leaves tomorrow at seven in the morning. If you want to stay, I won't force you. But if you decide to go, I'll be waiting for you at the station."

You looked at the ticket, then at Chris.

— What if I change my mind?

He smiled faintly.

— Then you'll tell me. But please... don't convince yourself that you don't have a future. You do.

Chris took a step back.

— It's up to you to decide.

The wind blew across the empty embankment again. A ticket lay before you, and ahead of you lay two paths: stay in the familiar city or take a risk and start all over again.

A cold evening shrouded the city in fog. The empty embankment was almost deserted, with only the occasional lantern reflected in the dark water. You stood by the railing, gazing off into the distance, when Chris, a Frenchman who spoke Russian with a noticeable French accent, stopped next to you.

"You came here alone again," he said quietly. "Why, hm? You know this won't solve anything."

You remained silent. Chris sighed and stood next to you.

• Listen to me. I'm leaving tomorrow morning. And I want you to come with me.

• Chris, I can't just up and start a new life.

• Why?

— Because I'm afraid of ruining everything. I'm afraid of becoming a burden to you.

He looked at you seriously.

— Do you really think I'm suggesting this out of pity?

You looked down.

Chris continued more softly:

"I saw what you went through. I watched you gradually distance yourself from everyone. And all this time, I tried to help. Not because I had to. Because I care about you."

• What if I don’t change?

"Then we'll take small steps. But you have to want to get out yourself."

He took a ticket out of his pocket and placed it on the railing.

"The train leaves tomorrow at seven in the morning. If you want to stay, I won't force you. But if you decide to go, I'll be waiting for you at the station."

You looked at the ticket, then at Chris.

— What if I change my mind?

He smiled faintly.

— Then you'll tell me. But please... don't convince yourself that you don't have a future. You do.

Chris took a step back.

— It's up to you to decide.

The wind blew across the empty embankment again. A ticket lay before you, and ahead of you lay two paths: stay in the familiar city or take a risk and start all over again.