Page 44 of Heal Me

We don't talk on our way, and I feel guilty for touching him like that without permission.

"I'm sorry," I stop, "I didn't mean to."

"What are you talking about?" Danylo pretends that nothing happened, and although this should make me feel better, for some reason it doesn't.

"For touching your hair."

"It's okay darling you can touch my hair as much as you want," he jokes.

I smile.

In the cafeteria, Danylo buys water and I get a croissant and hot chocolate. Danylo pays for everything.

"In my presence, women never pay for themselves," Danylo explains when I insist on paying for everything myself.

"You are a real gentleman."

"That's how my grandmother raised me," Danylo pulls out the chairs and we sit down at the table opposite each other.

His dark hair has lightened a bit and got shorter, and I didn't notice it, but it seems that after our first meeting at the bus stop, he cut his hair. His brown eyes are now a darker shade because it's raining outside, and it's not the first time I've noticed that his eye colour changes due to the weather. Danylo's lips are not at all plump, but they fit perfectly with his pronounced cheekbones and sharp nose.

"Did your grandmother raise you?" I finally ask him something.

"Yes, after my mother died, my father couldn't stand it and found his consolation in a bottle of vodka and then he disappeared from my life, sometimes appearing and preparing me for his business."

"And you not close with him?"

I can't imagine what it was like for that little boy who lost not only his mother but also his father.

"A few years ago, when he was on the righteous path, he tried to resume communication with me, but I didn’t allow him. He has a new family now, a much better one than I probably could have given him, because then he wouldn't have left me," and although Danylol's voice is low and confident, I feel a sharp pain trying to escape from inside.

"It's not your fault, if he was a real father, he would never have left his child."

Danylo doesn't answer. He looks away in silence.

"How did it happen that you and Zlata are together?"

"Amelia," he smiles, "I've already told you, age is not important, only your feelings are."

"How did you two meet?"

"We've known each other for a long time, our parents are business partners, but if you mean the first time we slept together, it was in a club." I grimace.

The thought of Danylo and another woman is unpleasant.

"It was not the best period of my life, and Zlata was my salvation, she pulled me out of that abyss."

"How long have you been together?"

"Soon it will be the third year."

"Three years?" I shout out, and then I clear my throat, I didn't expect my reaction to be so strong. "Three years is a pretty long period of time for a relationship."

"Yes," Danylo smiles proudly, "and you?" he moves closer, "have you been in a relationship, Amelia?"

"Yes," I answered briefly, despite the pain that had already begun to tear at my heart.

"For how long?"

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