Insatiable Thirst

I sat by an old mill, watching the lights in the windows of houses. And I imagined people in the kitchen, drinking tea at a table and chatting about trifles. A чужий cozy world… But in mine there was a road to nowhere and the fear of running into passersby. I was twenty-five, and behind me was a whole life — long and joyless… I can run away, go somewhere. I don’t have money, but that’s not a problem. I’ll manage, like I did before. The passport is with me… I’ll have to destroy it…

I thought about many things, and only thoughts of Martin I drove away. Too painful, too frightening… The moon hid behind clouds, and it grew completely dark. I need to go back. In the old man’s house, the light was on. He isn’t sleeping; he’s waiting for me. I was glad that I had at least this shelter.

I opened the door and went into the hallway… At that very moment something crashed down on my head — a whole firework burst before my eyes. And immediately everything went out…