Fancy Shop by Valeri Stanoevich

Author:Valeri Stanoevich [Stanoevich, Valeri]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd
Published: 2021-08-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHOICE

‘Yet, it’s good that you’ve come back,’ commented the driver. ‘They all think you’re dead and long gone. But she wouldn’t believe it. She’s still waiting for you.’

The driver’s cabin was warm and stuck all over with pictures of footballers and girls.

‘Is she?’ yawned the other and fixed his eyes on the rain.

‘Where have you been all this time?’

The other kept mum but the driver went on:

‘You’re coming to pick her up, aren’t you?’

‘I’ve come to bid her farewell.’

The truck slowed down and stopped:

‘Get down!’

The door was slammed. The noise died away beyond the hill. He muffled himself up and started walking on the asphalt, past bare trees. Now and then their tops swayed and shook out the rain. The road seemed to get narrower, squeezed by the forest. He was walking slowly. Then the earth tilted and he staggered, looking for support. Everything whirled round him: fast, faster, slower, and then came to a halt. Leaning against the tree he felt the roughness of the bark and saw the scattered clouds through the branches. He rose and carried on walking. The first houses were set in a row down the slope. A man was standing at the threshold of the second house. He met his gaze and moved on. The terrace of the restaurant was covered with leaves. He reached the square. Either everything had been left as it was before, or the twilight was masking the changes. Having passed the bridge, he stopped for a moment, cast a glance backward and set out along the street. He got there, knocked at the door and pushed down the handle. The staircase creaked, and footsteps and a voice were heard.

‘Who is it?’

‘It’s me.’ He started climbing, striking out in the right direction.

Her hug nearly toppled him. He leaned against the wall and said, ‘Let’s step into the light!’

When they were in the lamplight he saw that her face was the same. Only her wrinkled brow gave away her efforts to gain control over herself. He waited for her question and answered:

‘I have come to bid you farewell.’

Then he hastily uttered everything appropriate in that instance. Sentiments wear away just like everything else. Reminiscences fade. In no way did he differ from the rest.

‘I don’t believe it,’ she moaned. ‘You are lying! If you were like the others you wouldn’t come back.’

‘I came for the bracelet. It’s an heirloom, isn’t it? She’s found out about it and wants it. I have to give it to her. I don’t want her to leave me.’

She took it off and handed it to him: ‘Farewell!’

It was cold outside. Here and there light was shining from the windows. The bracelet glittered and sank into the shaft of the sewer. How long was there left to him? A month or two, a year? He went out into the street. The smell of snow wafted on the wind. ‘I can wait for a long time. I have enough memories left,’ she said once, long ago. May she forget .

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