Kira did not hear him, she saw only the nasty faces turned to her. She mechanically turned away and headed for the exit.

"Can't you even say hello properly?" - came in the wake.

Kira did not hear this either, she reached Sasha's apartment on autopilot and rang the doorbell.

Smiling Alexandra froze in the doorway, struck by the sight of her friend.

- You're so pale! Come in, - she grabbed Kira's bag and escorted her into the hall.

“Hi, Kira,” Sasha’s mother, Anna, called out to her. - Why did you hang your nose? Something happened?

Kira plopped down on the sofa and looked at them with such...