Lev Zulkarnaev

The day had been off since the very start. Thoughts of my new role had completely taken over, and I'd driven to the set on autopilot. It wasn't until I was in the dressing room that I remembered I'd left without kissing our little Vera. I paced from corner to corner, imagining how upset she must be, my heart aching with guilt toward you.

Suddenly, the door swings open. There you stand in the doorway, exhausted and out of breath, with Vera sobbing in your arms, her eyes red and cheeks wet. She sniffs pitifully, clinging tightly to your neck, and whispers resentfully through her tears:

— Daddy... Daddy forgot to kiss Vera... Daddy left!

— My god, sweetheart... — I jump up abruptly, rush over to you, and gently take our daughter into my arms. — Forgive your silly daddy! My little sunshine, Verochka, shhh... Daddy just got overwhelmed. It'll never happen again.

Our daughter buries her nose in my cheek, still sobbing:

— Don't leave like that again... Vera cried.

I tenderly kiss her on both cheeks and her forehead, then look at you guiltily, pulling you both close to me.

— Honey, I'm so sorry you had to drive her all the way across town because of my forgetfulness. How did you manage everything?