Anna gently closed the door behind her as she stepped into the quiet hallway of her apartment. The air, still and almost frozen, lingered with a faint, ghostly echo of the morning coffee she had lovingly prepared for her husband, Viktor, before his regular excursion into the wild. He had left the house in the pre-dawn twilight, armed with an array of fishing gear, a large thermos, and the unwavering enthusiasm that seemed to intensify with each passing year. A light smile spread across her lips as she recalled him softly humming an unidentifiable tune while arranging his belongings in the trunk of his car. “I’ll be back in a couple of days, Anya, don’t miss me too much!” he had called out from behind the wheel, the car slowly rolling away and leaving silence in its wake.
Anna had no intention of missing him. Over the years of their marriage, she had learned to fill the void left in his absence with activities that engaged her. This time, her plans included a visit to her friend, Svetlana, who lived in a nearby city. It was Svetlana who had called the day before, her voice sparkling with genuine excitement as she mentioned a certain “surprise” awaiting Anna. “You simply must come! I have something to show you that you won’t believe!” she had exclaimed over the phone, every note in her voice vibrating with uncontainable anticipation. Although Anna was well-acquainted with her friend’s eccentricities, she couldn’t help but feel a gentle, persistent curiosity. She had always enjoyed unexpected turns, especially if they offered a chance to freshen the monotony of her predictable life.
After packing a small, neat bag, Anna got into her not-so-new car and headed towards the neighboring city. The route was familiar to her: a few hours of straight driving down a road bordered by endless fields shimmering under the autumn sun, interspersed with solitary clusters of trees, all set to the soft backdrop of a radio station playing tunes from yesteryear. She hummed along, feeling a light, exhilarating sensation of anticipation bubble within her. What could Svetlana have planned this time? Perhaps she had organized an impromptu party? Or maybe she had finally realized her long-held dream and purchased that house she often mentioned? Thoughts swirled in Anna’s mind, creating whimsical patterns, but none seemed sufficiently convincing or complete. Svetlana was a true master of surprising situations, and her “surprises” rarely turned out to be simple or predictable.
When Anna’s car finally came to a stop in front of the familiar two-story house on the outskirts of the city, the sun was beginning to dip toward the horizon, casting a warm, golden light all around. Svetlana was already waiting at the gate, her face illuminated by a radiant smile as if she held a secret of enormous significance. Draped in a vibrant, patterned dress that harmonized perfectly with her cheerful, somewhat unruly personality, Svetlana immediately embraced Anna before she could even exit the vehicle and, without wasting a moment, swept her inside the warmly lit house.
“So, what is this surprise you’ve been hiding so carefully?” Anna asked as she removed her shoes in the cozy entryway.
Svetlana merely narrowed her eyes mischievously, winked playfully, and without uttering a word in response, took Anna’s hand and led her to the living room. There, on the soft sofa, enveloped by the evening shadows, sat a stranger. Anna froze in place, feeling as though time had paused within her. He was tall, with dark, slightly curly hair and light stubble that added an elusive charm to his appearance, as if he had just returned from a long and fascinating journey. His dark, penetrating eyes found Anna immediately, and he smiled—slowly, calmly, with confidence, as though he possessed some knowledge about her that she herself had yet to discover.
“Allow me to introduce Dmitry,” Svetlana announced with an air of triumph. “Dmitry, this is Anna, my dearest and closest friend.”
Anna felt a warm wave wash over her cheeks. She had not anticipated that Svetlana’s surprise would turn out to be a… living, breathing person. Dmitry gracefully rose from the sofa, extending his hand in greeting. His warm and strong palm lingered in hers for a moment longer than polite norms dictated.
“Very nice to meet you, Anna,” he said, his voice deep with a pleasant huskiness that momentarily set her heart racing out of rhythm.
“The pleasure is mutual,” she replied, striving to mask her mild bewilderment. “Svetlana, what’s the occasion for all this?” she turned to her friend, whose eyes sparkled with expectation.
Svetlana laughed, clearly relishing the current situation and its effect.
“Oh, it’s simply for the sake of fun! Dmitry is an old, good acquaintance of mine visiting our city for just a few days. Instantly, I thought you two must meet. He’s quite an… unusual person. Care to share what you do, Dmitry?”
Dmitry kept his intense gaze fixed on Anna, a wider smile spreading on his face, with tiny creases forming at the corners of his eyes.
“I am a photographer by profession,” he stated. “I travel a lot, capturing the essence of people, the beauty of new places, and weaving together the stories that unfold around us. I sometimes host exhibitions of my work, but more often, I just live in the moment, savoring every experience as it comes.”
Anna nodded, trying her best to appear genuinely interested, but deep inside, a strange, unexplainable feeling began to bud. Svetlana must have something in mind, and this Dmitry, with his piercing gaze and calm assurance, was an integral part of her scheme.
The evening unfolded in a light yet somewhat tense atmosphere. Svetlana, as was her custom, reveled at the center of attention: joking, sharing amusing stories, and topping off everyone’s glasses with wine. Dmitry proved to be a splendid conversationalist—he talked about his countless journeys, about how he once photographed a sunset in the vast Sahara Desert and almost collided with wild monkeys in thick, impenetrable jungles. Anna listened attentively, laughing at appropriate moments, but all the while, she could not shake the feeling that his gaze was constantly upon her. He wasn’t intrusive, but his attention was decidedly focused, studying, as if he were considering her as a subject for one of his future photographs, striving to grasp every tiny detail.
As Svetlana excused herself for a moment to fetch something from the kitchen, Dmitry leaned in closer and softly whispered, “You know, you don’t strike me as someone who enjoys staying in one place. Why don’t you travel more, explore new horizons?”
Anna felt an unexpected tightness within her as his words struck a nerve. It made her uncomfortable just how accurately he had discerned her long-held, concealed aspirations. Deep down, she had always dreamt of distant roads, unknown places, and a sense of utter freedom. But life with Viktor was entirely different—stable, dependable, predictable, and oh-so-cozy.
“Things don’t always work out as we wish,” she replied, lowering her gaze to study the pattern on the tablecloth. “Family, obligations, household chores…”
“I understand,” Dmitry nodded, but there was a quality in his tone that made Anna feel vulnerable and exposed. It was as if he could see through her, deciphering her most concealed thoughts.
Svetlana entered the room with a large tray filled with snacks, and the general conversation resumed, but Anna couldn’t regain her previous state of relaxation. Her thoughts danced chaotically, and her heart squeezed from the pressing sensation of an unknown, troubling premonition. As the evening drew to a close, Svetlana insisted that Anna stay over—”Where would you go alone at this late hour, especially after a glass of wine!”. After a brief hesitation, Anna agreed, although a nagging instinct told her that returning home would have been the wiser choice.
That night, she tossed and turned in bed, unable to close her eyes. Lying in the guest room and staring at the ceiling swallowed by darkness, she tried to comprehend what was causing her such distress. Dmitry. His penetrating gaze, calm voice, and his unexpected yet precise questions. And Svetlana, who had seemingly orchestrated this unanticipated encounter with a purpose. But what purpose? Anna rolled from side to side until fatigue finally claimed her, dropping her into a restless, fragmented sleep.
Morning greeted her with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting throughout the house. Svetlana, as always, brimmed with energy. Dmitry also made his presence known, suggesting they all take a leisurely walk in a nearby park. Svetlana immediately embraced the idea, and soon they found themselves strolling through pathways surrounded by golden and crimson autumn trees. Dmitry pulled out his camera, capturing everything around: a leaf falling from a branch, spinning in the air, the sunlight’s reflection shimmering on the smooth surface of a pond, and Svetlana laughing heartily. Yet, Anna couldn’t help but notice that the lens of his camera was often directed at her.
“Is it alright if I take your picture?” he asked, catching her gaze through the viewfinder.
She merely nodded silently, although inside she felt a twinge of awkwardness. Dmitry pressed the shutter, then turned the camera to show her the photo. In the image, she saw herself… alive and real. Not the Anna who prepared breakfast every morning and eagerly awaited her husband’s return, but an entirely different woman—eyes sparkling with life, a subtle, mysterious smile gracing her lips.
“You’re a beautiful woman,” he said softly, and in his voice, she heard no flattery, just a simple, solid acknowledgment.
Heat rushed to Anna’s cheeks once more. She muttered something vague before stepping closer to Svetlana, who was engrossed in lively conversation with a passerby. But throughout the rest of the walk, she felt his discerning gaze upon her. What was even more unsettling was that she began to reciprocate this feeling.
As evening approached, Svetlana unexpectedly announced that she needed to rush to the city center for urgent errands.
“Try not to miss me too much while I’m gone,” she winked playfully, grabbed her bag, and hurried out the door, leaving Anna and Dmitry alone in the quiet living room.
For a few moments, an intense silence enveloped the space. Suddenly, Anna acutely realized they were alone in this large, empty house, a sensation both exhilarating and frightening. Dmitry, sensing her internal tension, gently suggested brewing fresh tea. They settled in the kitchen, and their conversation naturally transitioned to a more intimate, deeper level. He began asking about her life, her long-held aspirations, and what she truly wanted from her future. And surprisingly, Anna began to open up. She confessed how she was weary of the daily grind, how often she felt trapped in an invisible cage, how she still dreamed of simply grabbing a backpack and wandering off to someplace where no one knows her and no one is waiting.
Dmitry listened intently, not interrupting or rushing to comment. After a brief pause, he expressed, “You know, Anna, life is too short and fleeting to constantly deny ourselves the things that can truly make us happy.”
She lifted her gaze to him, and in that moment, something shifted within her. Perhaps it was his profound, penetrating gaze, or the words he articulated, or maybe the long-gestating fatigue from her life. But she suddenly realized she wanted to be closer to this stranger. She longed to feel alive again, just like she did in that very photograph.
As he leaned toward her, she did not pull away. His lips were surprisingly warm, and the kiss was such that the entire surrounding world froze for a brief moment. Anna closed her eyes, allowing herself to fully immerse in this exhilarating sensation. But just a few seconds later, she pulled away abruptly, thrust back into the harsh reality.
“I can’t do this,” she whispered as she rose from her chair. “I have a husband, a family.”
Dmitry simply nodded, making no attempts to hold her back or prove anything.
“I completely understand your feelings,” he replied. “But you must always remember you know where to find me if you ever change your mind.”
Anna fled from the kitchen, feeling her heart racing wildly. She locked herself in the guest room and remained isolated until Svetlana’s return, struggling to make sense of the chaos of her emotions. She felt embarrassed and even ashamed of her vulnerability, yet at the same time, she could not deny that fleeting kiss had awakened something forgotten and buried under the weight of daily life.
Upon her return, Svetlana promptly noticed her worried, agitated state.
“Did something happen?” she asked, feigning innocence, though the quick spark in her eyes revealed she was already aware of much more than she was letting on.
Unable to contain everything any longer, Anna recounted to her friend everything that had transpired. Svetlana listened intently, without interruption or comment, then suddenly burst into her infectious laughter.
“Goodness, Anya, but this is life itself! Do you really think Viktor spends all his fishing trips solely catching fish?”
Anna stood frozen, sensing an unsettling chill wash over her.
“What do you mean by that?”
Svetlana shrugged knowingly, yet her expression spoke volumes.
“Oh, nothing of great importance. Just… try to live life to the fullest, my friend. You are still young and attractive. Why willingly bury yourself alive?”
These words pierced deep into Anna’s consciousness like sharp splinters. The next day she returned home but felt like a different woman compared to the one who had left for Svetlana’s. Viktor arrived back from fishing, weary yet content, with a good catch and an array of new stories, yet as Anna looked at him, she saw an almost unfamiliar person. She couldn’t shake the intrusive thoughts of Dmitry, of his words, and of how he had made her feel valued and desired once again.
After a week of inner turmoil, she found his contact details in Svetlana’s phone. She sent a brief but impactful message: “I want to see you again.” From that moment onward, her neatly organized life began to disintegrate slowly but inevitably, like a house of cards.
Dmitry responded to her message almost instantly. They arranged to meet at a cozy little café on the outskirts of town, a place where they were unlikely to be recognized by acquaintances or neighbors. Their conversations, which initially seemed innocent, quickly grew into something deeper and more passionate. Anna couldn’t stop—she felt like someone engulfed in a fever, constantly conjuring new excuses for their subsequent meetings. She lied to Viktor, telling him she was going to Svetlana’s, that she was working late due to a pressing project, that she was helping her friend with a long and difficult move. But in reality, she was fully immersed in Dmitry’s embrace, in his thrilling tales, in his vibrant and unfamiliar world where there was no space for boredom or tired responsibilities.
But as is known, no secret can remain hidden forever. One evening, after returning home much later than usual, Anna found Viktor waiting for her in the living room, seated in his armchair. His face was stern and dark, and on the table before him lay her mobile phone, which she had absentmindedly left at home that morning. The phone screen was active, and a bright, new message from Dmitry was displayed.
“Who is this, Anna?” Viktor asked, his voice colder and harsher than ever.
Anna scrambled to conjure a believable excuse, attempting to wriggle out of the situation, but her fabrication crumbled before her eyes like a house of cards. Viktor wasn’t shouting, wasn’t throwing a scene, and wasn’t breaking anything. He merely looked at her with a heavy, disappointed gaze, which was so much worse than any loud argument could ever be.
“I always believed that we are honest with each other about everything,” he finally said, pausing between words. “But now I see I was terribly mistaken.”
Anna wanted to explain, to try and justify herself, to find the right words, but they lodged in her throat, unable to escape. She understood she was at fault, yet simultaneously felt that she could never return to her previous life, to what had been. Silently, Viktor gathered his essential belongings into a small bag and left the house that very night. And Anna was left all alone in an empty, silent apartment, with a heavy, oppressive feeling that her entire familiar world had shattered into thousands of sharp pieces that would never be whole again.
She immediately dialed Dmitry’s number, but his response was completely unexpected and bitter:
“Anna, I must be honest with you. I am not cut out for a settled, quiet life. You know very well who I truly am. I cannot and will not be the person you perhaps want to see me as.”
And it was at that moment that she finally understood the depth of her mistake. All this time, she had chased an illusory, beautiful dream. Dmitry was not a real man to her but merely a symbol—of freedom, passion, and everything she so desperately lacked in her life. But he never belonged to her and had no intention of belonging to her in the future.
Anna remained completely alone, with a broken heart and a shattered family life. Svetlana, upon learning what had truly transpired, merely shrugged meaningfully once more:
“I told you, darling, live life to the fullest while you can. But it seems you’ve indulged this idea a bit too much.”
Time pressed forward, indifferent to her grief. Viktor, unforgiving of the betrayal, filed for divorce. Anna tried to piece together her new, solitary existence, but each time she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror, she saw that same woman from Dmitry’s photograph—alive, full of emotion, yet lost and no longer belonging to herself. That “surprise” from Svetlana turned out not to be just an unexpected meeting. It became that irrevocable point of no return, the fateful border beyond which nothing could ever be the same again.