There was silence on the phone. Irina was silent. And Sergei understood that he would now cut everything off in one fell swoop. Drop the call and go on with your usual life, but ... He seemed to want to hear something before making a final decision.

- Seryozha, just come back soon. I'll be waiting, - Irina blurted out in one breath.

- I'll try, babe. Sergei nodded and ended the call.

And Irina, as if bewitched, for a long time still pressed the telephone receiver to her chest.

Chapter 7

Irina went into a small room and carefully closed the door behind her, but it still slammed. The...