Stories of one night

– I can call… tell them that you are alive, – Pavel suggested.

– No!!! Dead, then dead!!! – She replied sharply and even rude.

– Um, – Pavel started from a sudden rise in her voice.

– I’m sorry, – she apologized.

Pavel nodded.

She leaned back on the sofa again and stared thoughtfully out the window.

– Eat something, – Pasha suggested some time later.

– Yeah, let’s eat. We should ask the waiters not to rat me out. Let’s say that you have taken me to the hospital yourself.

She was silent for a long time and then suddenly said:

– Pasha, I have desires that I have wanted to fulfill for a long time. And now there is a unique situation – everyone thinks that I’m dead. Will you help me?

– With pleasure, – he disappeared in his own smile.

Not far from the cafе there was a parking lot. Pavel always left there his car – a brand new Volvo which he was able to buy immediately after the courses. They drove out of the parking lot and headed towards the ring road. A long road went right all the time. Cars were becoming scarce. Basically, at this time of the day people were going in the opposite direction – to the city.

They passed the last neighborhood and were outside the city.

– I said good-bye to him in a bad way. It’s about my husband, – Elena began her story. – I can tell you this, – she involuntarily smiled and became thoughtful. –

We met long ago, during my first shoot. He is my first director.

Pavel looked at her and then back at the road.

– The first film role. I was in the wild delight. The first director – and crazy about me! I was happy! Then, receiving the first flowers, I realized that he was in love with me. Then – more. He’s older than me and always seemed so experienced.

And I am so naive, I always thought that everything would be endured and there would be love, I consoled myself with the thoughts that one loves, and the second one

allows to be loved. But then I wanted to love. I don’t know when I would have time for everything. Anyway, time is needed for relations, and with my employment…

Sergey became very jealous. Thank God, at least he did not raise a hand to me. Pasha, I just wanted to call on him and thank him. I have not told it to him for such a long time. And now, when I’m dead, – she giggled.

– Don’t tell me such things! What’s up?! – Pavel was indignant.

– Well, I’m sorry.

– I… – Pavel started gesticulating. – Well, it’s nothing!

While she spoke, an elite settlement inhabited by new Russian movie, TV stars and other celebrities appeared on the horizon.

– Where shall I go? There? – Pavel asked.

– Yes, Pasha. The second house. Park there, on the left.

A beautiful three-story red brick building barely peeked from behind a tall fence. There was a massive gate with two cameras and two searchlights illuminating the road. Pavel came closer and stopped.

– I’ll go with you, it’s already late, – Pavel turned on the light in the cabin.

She became thoughtful.

– I suppose, yes, – and she got out of the car decidedly.

Approaching the gate, they called. Nobody answered, only a ringtone sounded.

Lena and Pavel looked at each other. Then Lena tried to open the gate. She managed to do it. The gate was opened. She carefully looked inside.

– Pasha, let’s go, – she whispered softly.

An asphalt path illuminated by the searchlights led from the fence to the house.

Around it there was a green lawn with an automatic grass-watering system. But in the house, with about twenty people inside, there was absolute silence.

– Pasha, something has happened here, – Elena whispered again.

Looking back, they went to the house along the asphalt path.

– Let me go first, I’m still a man, – Pavel said quietly and went forward.

He opened the door quietly, and they went inside. TV was on, loudly reporting on the death of Elena Yarskaya, lights were turned on in the hall. They walked up and froze.

– Who’s there? – A voice asked.

– Sergey, it’s me, – she came out of hiding.

– Lena! But you…

A short-cut, black-and-gray-haired man of about forty-five stood looking at his wife. He was wearing faded jeans and a dark blue sweater.

– What’s the matter with you? – She came closer and touched his face, seeing the marks of beatings on it.

– You’re alive! The main thing is that you’re alive! – He hugged his wife and noticed Pavel.

– Who are you? – Sergey asked.

– Sergey, I have not introduced you two. This is my savior.

– And how did it happen?.. – He wanted to say that she was considered dead.

But she did not let him finish.

– Well, then it must be so.