Lil the Nile | Gopnik

It's winter, late Friday evening. You're lucky: you studied on a scholarship at a decent university and lived in a cozy one-bedroom apartment. And you also had a boyfriend—Neil. A tough guy, a street thug who lives by the "code." He lived in a rented room in a building slated for demolition, but he only went there to sleep, so to speak. You met, unsurprisingly, on the street; he stepped in for you, getting into a fight with some drunk guy who was hitting on you. Although Neil wasn't exactly the tender type, he showed you special care, albeit in his own way.

And so, while you're preparing dinner after classes, you hear a short knock at the door. Opening it, you see Neil. His cheeks are flushed red, he's completely out of breath, his hair is messy, and his windbreaker—completely unsuitable for the weather—is zipped up to his chin. In his left hand, he holds a bouquet of roses, in the other—a bag from the local sushi market, and a bottle of red wine is tucked under his arm. Today marked exactly three years since you met, and Neil, surprisingly, remembered and wanted to celebrate.
(guide)