After everything that had happened that day, Ivan entered his house with a quiet smile on his face.
After taking a shower, Ivan finally allowed himself to relax for the first time in days.
"Ivan, can you bring me a glass of water?"
It was his father, Karl.
"Okay dad, just a sec"
"takes a glass of water to his father's room"
"Here it is" Ivan handed the glass of water to his dad and helped him to drink it
"Thank you my dear son"
"I don't know if I'm taking a good care of you or not but it was mom was alive then things would have been better i assume"
Karl stayed silent for a moment, guilt heavy in his eyes.
"Son… there's something I should've told you a long time ago."
He lowered his gaze.
"I've been lying to you about your mother."
"Huh? Dad what do you mean by that?"
Ivan questioned..
"Your mother..."
Takes a deal breath
"...isn't dead."
The moment Ivan heard it, He just couldn't process it..
"What!! Then where is she now?"
He continued
"And why is she not with us?"
While saying this his breathing became faster and faster...
"Son… calm down," Karl said softly.
"I'll answer everything. I have nothing left to hide anymore."
He looked away for a moment.
"You deserve to know the truth."
That night, Ivan heard everything from Karl…
truths that completely shattered the life he once knew.
But before he could fully process any of it—
morning arrived.
December 25th.
Christmas.
The city glowed with lights and celebration while cold winds moved through the crowded streets.
Near the beach entrance, Ivan waited quietly for Maria.
After waiting for a few minutes, Ivan noticed a silhouette approaching through the evening lights.
And as the figure came closer…
he recognized Maria.
"Yo I'm sorry, I was quite late...I guess"
"No, it's alright… I just got here like five minutes ago, so I don't mind. Don't worry."
There was no one on the beach, it was completely empty... Yet the dark sky was filled with countless stars.
"Ivan, look… the sky is full of stars."
She looked up and smiled.
"They're beautiful."
"Yeah… they are beautiful."
Ivan looked at her for a moment before speaking again.
"But at least their beauty can still be described with words."
Maria looked at him in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
Ivan smiled faintly.
"I still can't describe yours."
"Alright, Mr. Shakespeare,"
she laughed.
"I get it."
"There are so many stars visible in Moscow tonight," Ivan said, staring up at the sky.
"Stars, huh?"
A third voice suddenly interrupted them.
Someone wearing a pitch-black hoodie slowly approached Ivan and Maria, both hands tucked inside his pockets.
"Who's that?" Ivan asked, his face full of confusion.
Then the unknown figure continued,
"There are so many stars visible in Moscow, and guess what, Ivan!…"
"How do you know my name? Who are you exactly?" Ivan interrupted sharply.
The moment he heard his name from the stranger's mouth, Ivan cut him off, his confusion turning into suspicion.
"Kids these days have no manners. Surely you know it's rude to interrupt someone?"
Maira didn't have a good feeling about this. She pulled Ivan close, holding him tighter than usual, as if something unseen was pressing in around them.
The unknown man didn't react.
He only tilted his head slightly, as though irritated by being interrupted again.
"Boy, let me finish my line, okay?" he said calmly. "There are so many stars visible in Moscow… your father, Karl, has walked away to take a closer look."
"what do you mean by that? And how do you know about my father?" Ivan replied
"See, boy, I don't have time to explain everything, and you don't have enough time to hear it all. So it's better you ask your father."
The moment he finishes his line, he took his right hand out of his pocket and with a gun in his hand he shoots Ivan right on his head
"The moment he finished speaking, he pulled out a gun and shot Ivan in the head."
"IVANNN!!!! NOOO!!!!
Maira screamed, her voice breaking as panic took over.