1980
The young man knocked on the door of a roadside motel room.
A minute later, a rather beautiful girl with long, blonde curls and a light, short dress appeared on the threshold, her face filled with surprise.
«Why are you here? Where’s your brother?» she asked, glancing around.
«He’s not coming.» The tall, dark-haired man narrowed his eyes and, without waiting for an invitation, stepped inside.
Startled by his audacity, the girl instinctively moved to the side. Meanwhile, the visitor stopped in the middle of the room, noticing an open suitcase on the bed, filled with neatly folded clothes. His gaze swept over the surroundings before he spoke in a commanding tone:
«You need to go back home and forget about him forever.»
Looking at him in confusion, the girl immediately responded, «That will never happen!»
«If you truly love him, you’ll listen to me.»
He turned to face her, his black eyes locking onto her large, blue ones.
His gaze made her take a step back. Yet, in a quiet but firm voice, she said, «That’s not for you to decide.»
«You don’t understand. Family bonds mean everything to us. If he stays with you, he will suffer. He’s going against our father because of you,» he growled, his brows furrowing as his voice took on a harsher edge. «This won’t end well. Disaster will follow. Leave and forget about him!»
He was trying to make her see the seriousness of the situation. But she was stubborn, snapping back at him with a defiant «No!»
Yet at that moment, a shiver ran through her body. A strange, unsettling feeling washed over her—an anxious fear, as if something terrible was about to happen.
She kept backing away until she felt the cold press of the wall against her back, right next to the window. Her wide eyes never left him.
Noticing her distress, the man was momentarily puzzled. He hadn’t moved from his spot—his hands were casually tucked into his pockets, and he was simply talking. And yet, she was trembling.
With bated breath, she cast a desperate glance out the window, as if hoping for salvation. The day had dragged into the evening in endless waiting for her beloved. Until the very last moment, she had clung to hope, listening intently for his footsteps. But they never came.
Meanwhile, the man stood still, analyzing the situation. Leaving things as they were and walking away now seemed impossible. Since he had come this far, he had to at least try to change something. He saw it as his duty to save his brother from the looming threat—no matter the cost.
