Stories of one night. Алексей Аркадьевич Мухин

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.

      – They searched for your diary, Lena. By the way, they showed me your photo, too, – Sergey turned to Pavel. – Soon is April 4 – presidential elections. Yes, yes, Cheburashka can fail.

      – Beasts! – Elena sighed and lowered her head. – Sergey, do not tell anyone that I came. Okay?

      Pavel understood that they needed to talk and he – to leave them alone. He went outside and got in the car.

      – Sergey, I would like to say thank you for everything you have done for me…

      – Well, wait, – he tried to hug her.

      – Don’t interrupt me, – Elena snapped. – Thank you for what you have done for me. We will never meet again.

      Sergey watched her, not looking away. She turned and left. Sergey was left alone. He did not want to run after her, realizing that it was useless. Anyway, he got a lot: five years of her life, joint life with him. And now he was standing in an empty hallway and listened to the sound of her footsteps – of the woman he loved, who was going away forever and who would never return. Once in the car, Elena did not say anything for a long time. Pavel was silent and waited for an order.

      – Go, – she said.

      – Where to? – Pavel asked.

      – Straight.

      He started. They drove back to the city. Elena still did not say anything – only told him where to go further. Pavel thought that it did not become easier for her after that visit.

      – Take me, for example, – he said cheerfully. – Today I told my boss that he is an asshole!

      Lena looked at him in surprise.

      – And my mood is wonderful! And you say goodbye in such a sad way! There is in fact a sacred female commandment: “Do not be sad, otherwise your breasts will be bad”.

      His joke succeeded. Elena smiled and rejuvenated.

      – How so? Did you get sick and tired of him?

      – Ah, – Pavel shrugged. – An asshole is an asshole. You just endure it, and then fly over the handle… But in general, it became easier. And after that I went for a walk.

      – Oh, I see. And what are you now?

      – I’ll find another job.

      – Be sure to find it. Everything will be fine.

      They were silent for some time.

      Soon Pavel started to realize, where they came; the area seemed very familiar to him.

      – Novo-Ogaryovo? – He asked.

      – Yes, it is. Cheburashka lives here.

      – Residence of the President, cool! And is he a loved one?

      – Well, – Elena began to gesticulate. – It just happened so, – she added with humor. – We met at a reception in honor of the anniversary of something. We talked

      for a long time, then fled from everybody to the balcony, and drank champagne.

      Three minutes – and I fell in love. I was looking at him, with my mouth open, and he continued to say something. Then he admitted that it was the same thing with him. I have never loved so, and it came late to me, I was already married. And then he walked me home through the night Moscow. It turned out that in order to see how people live he often walks around the city by himself. We searched the most unusual places of the capital. Still, we have an amazing city. Then we started dating, and Misha appeared – the best man in the whole world. But… he’s married, and then he has another love – politics… Yesterday I was going to tell him to dare to something: whether abandon his wife and politics and stay with me, or…

      Elena sighed. Then she grinned.

      – You know, I wanted to tell him that he is an asshole! I was so angry. I can’t stay with Sergey, I don’t love him,