Can you just tell me? - while she is looking for something with her eyes on the computer screen, I already feel that I am being seriously shaken, - In which ward is he? - again I demand an answer, digging my fingers into the glass fence.

One minutochku ... girl.

I push off the glass rim and run my hands through my hair. I don't care how I look now. If right now no one tells me where Maxim is and what's wrong with him, I'll just... just smash this room! With the last of my strength, I grab the hand of another woman, a health worker, and stop her.

Excuse me... can you tell me which ward Likhanov is in?

What room is the girl in? You realized it was too late... He was immediately transferred from the intensive care unit to the morgue.

...I don't know how to describe what I felt. It just seemed to me that everything began to spin counterclockwise. Some people moved around very quickly, but I did not see anyone. It was as if I had been hit on the head with something, completely knocking out all my thoughts. Some kind of huge stone block pressed on my shoulders and I just stared at one point, mentally plugging my ears from my own inner cry. I seemed to be lost in space.

...I told you that I'm all right!

As if out of a fog, I heard a familiar voice and cautiously turned around. Now comes the shock. I just stood up as if rooted to the spot in the middle of the hall and watched as Maxim and another man in a white coat appeared from somewhere. They were discussing something so enthusiastically, and then they froze when they saw me.

Stephanie? - Max's voice, as well as his look was amazed and somewhat shocked. I only once looked at his figure with a surprised look, and then rushed towards him and crashed with a running start, so that Max almost collapsed to the floor. I hugged him, and Max for the first few moments resembled an ice block. And then he thawed and hugged me back.

Steph, what are you doing? What happened? - He asked in a half-whisper and somehow strange, as if he had not been in an accident and my excitement was groundless. I pulled away just for a moment to look into his light brown eyes and see complete incomprehension there. He even frowned a little. And I shamefully burst into tears, introducing both Max and the paramedics into shock.

My God... I'll bring water now. - said the nurse and moved away from us. Maxim pressed me closer to him, although he hardly understood anything, and I began to rummage around his back and shoulders with my palms, looking for visible and tangible wounds.

Here, have a drink. It's a sedative. And you don't have to react like that. They would immediately say who you are looking for ... - the woman gave me a disposable glass of water and a pill. I was in such a state that I could not utter anything. Maxim gently tore me away from him, looked into my eyes, as if he was about to extort something. I sobbed helplessly and mumbled something unintelligible.

Steph, what? What? - he says with pressure, but I still can't calm down. Then Max makes me take this pill and turns his attention to the nurses.

What did you say to her?

The girl asked which ward Likhanov was in. We told her that he had passed away. Our surgeon Boris Stepanovich Likhanov. He was such a person, he saved so many, but he himself fell ill from a heart attack and did not get out. Well, we thought she was his granddaughter. Sorry girl...

Max sighed in displeasure and, grabbing my shoulders, led me to the bench. Then he sat me there, and he squatted down at my feet. He took a handkerchief out of his pocket and gave it to me. I don’t know how or what, but quite unexpectedly, such fatigue attacked me that I didn’t have the strength to speak, but to move.

How are you? Feel better? - carefully looking at my reddened face, asked Max. I silently nodded my head. We sat in silence for a few more moments, and then he enterprisingly announced that it was time to leave here.

Sorry again! If we can do something ... - the nurse hustled, following us all the way to the exit. But, Max stopped her with a cold look.

You've already done everything. Thank you!

We went down the steps. Slowly, I inhaled the still cool air, which also burned my cheeks. I opened the car door, but Max gently pushed me away, taking the keys and he got behind the wheel. I settled next to. When we left the territory of the hospital, I finally calmed down and could already think soberly. It's just that my head started to hurt.

What happened, Maxim? Have you had an accident?

Let's talk a little later...

Why not now? - I immediately smell a catch.

Because you need to come to your senses!

I'm fine. Max, tell me honestly, are you responsible for the accident?

Maxim looked at me expressively, as if what he heard touched his pride. It seemed to me that something was habitually sarcastic, but no. He is silent and pierces me through with a concentrated gaze. As soon as he opens his mouth to say something, they signal us and I finally pay attention to the fact that the traffic light has long allowed us to go. So, judging by the fact that he chose the path in the opposite direction from my house, we have a serious conversation.

Maxim really brings me to a nice and cozy cafe. We order hot chocolates each and sit down at a table outside. I feel much better now, so I take a few sips and, putting my cup aside, patiently wait for an explanation from him.

Yes, I got into an accident. - this is how Max reports directly on the forehead, leaning back in his chair.

“Judging by the fact that you don’t have a scratch on you, someone else got hurt. Yes?!

Not. In fact, no one was hurt. A motorcyclist unexpectedly flew at me and I did not have time to do something ... In general, I flew into a pole, and at the same time demolished another car that was parked nearby.

“God…” These words were enough for me to bring fear back.

Everything is fine with the owner of the car. I'll pay for the repairs.

A motorcyclist?

The bastard escaped ... - Maxim grinned.

I see... So, everything is in order?! - he nodded, and I wanted to know more, - What about work? What about Demyan?

And what happened to him? Max was worried. I carefully looked at Maxim, and he, respectively, at me. We both understood that Likhanov knew what he did not say. And both admitted that one way or another, but I still get the truth.