The price of error

Chapter 1

Someone's steps were heard behind the door. It was a grandmother - Paraska, my mother's mother. Recently, Radimir has been sitting at home. Lately, he hardly talked to anyone. I tried to go out for a walk as little as possible since I entered the university. Sometimes Radik became simply unbearable in communication. He skillfully learned to hide his true feelings under a mask and appear rough and tough from the outside. This scared his friends and they left him.

The door opened and an older woman, aged sixty-five to seventy, entered the room. It was she - Baba Paraskeva, or as Radymy called her - Baba Paraska. He spent his entire childhood near her. They had a lot in common. The same temperament, certain character traits, some common tastes. Some would say that Radik was quite a grandmother's boy. But it was far from the case.

- And what are you looking at there? - asked grandmother Paraska - There is nothing now. It's winter in the yard, the frost is transmitted.

- The cold is good - Radimir sighed - But it does not prevent a young person from going out in the evening.

- Are you going to go somewhere?

- Yes, I think I will go. I'll go for a walk! Don't worry, I won't be long!

- Oh, I wouldn't have worried if I knew you had a girlfriend! And who knows where you will go!

- Grandma, don't bend over like that! I never budge! Why do I need it now!? I will study better - and he added in a whisper - with a cold mind and an icy heart...

- Yes, it's like you said a long time ago! And then they will get married in a flash - a flash and what?

- And let... It's their right - Radik laughed - That's all grandma, I'll get ready!

The guy put on sporty, warm, black pants, a sweater, a warm sports jacket, found sneakers and went out into the yard. It was dark outside. Lanterns were shining. Someone's not-quiet conversation could be heard here and there. Everything was being prepared for the evening rest.

The night city was even much better than you could have imagined. He hadn't seen him like this for a long time. Everywhere garlands, lighting, Christmas tree. Everything seemed to resemble the beginning of a film from the field of science fiction.

In the center stood the temple. It was almost the grandest building of this small Galician town. Huge, round baths with crosses on top rose to the sky, as if connecting people with God. The door to the church was open and the boy decided to enter. He had not visited the temple for a long time. Constant running around with studies, a session, a lot of work. All this did not give an opportunity to rest normally and to solve one's religious needs. A beautifully tiled path led from the gate to the large door. Radimir turned into the church yard and went to the door. It was a massive dark oak door. The boy opened one of them and crossed the threshold. In the middle there was semi-darkness. Only at the very front were several light bulbs shining, illuminating the faces of the saints. There were statues on the sides. It seemed as if they would come to life and start talking. The boy walked a few steps and turned to the right. He approached the side altar on which stood a statue of Christ, almost in full height. It was a favorite place. Here, behind the columns, which were made here according to the model of Roman Catholic churches, almost no one saw him. Radimir sat down on the bench. Dozens of saints looked at him from the walls and ceiling. It seemed that they wanted to say something to him, to warn him against something, and it was only worth waiting a minute. "God, it was a long time ago! - thought the boy, - Once upon a time I used to run here as a child under these columns. Once he was the first in the church service of our city. Once upon a time... How things change!? Who am I now? Why don't I feel what I once felt? That passion for everything? Peace of mind? The same confidence? almost no one saw him. Radimir sat down on the bench. Dozens of saints looked at him from the walls and ceiling. It seemed that they wanted to say something to him, to warn him against something, and it was only worth waiting a minute. "God, it was a long time ago! - thought the boy, - Once upon a time I used to run here as a child under these columns. Once he was the first in the church service of our city. Once upon a time... How things change!? Who am I now? Why don't I feel what I once felt? That passion for everything? Peace of mind? The same confidence? almost no one saw him. Radimir sat down on the bench. Dozens of saints looked at him from the walls and ceiling. It seemed that they wanted to say something to him, to warn him against something, and it was only worth waiting a minute. "God, it was a long time ago! - thought the boy, - Once upon a time I used to run here as a child under these columns. Once he was the first in the church service of our city. Once upon a time... How things change!? Who am I now? Why don't I feel what I once felt? That passion for everything? Peace of mind? The same confidence? ? Who am I now? Why don't I feel what I once felt? That passion for everything? Peace of mind? The same confidence? ? Who am I now? Why don't I feel what I once felt? That passion for everything? Peace of mind? The same confidence?