Любовь ?| Love?

Первая встреча|First meeting

Finally, the classes were over. I packed my things and headed home. I walk home to take more time and be alone with my thoughts. The path I walk every day is very beautiful, with trees and greenery everywhere. In autumn, it is even more beautiful, with trees displaying all shades of yellow, orange, and red. Walking under the falling leaves feels unreal, almost otherworldly, as if I could fly away with the wind and those leaves. Far away...where silence and peace are  not something you dream about. Where I wasn't born in a broken hause. Where shouting and screaming are not something normalazed. Where I can sleep peacefully without hearing screams in the back of my head. Where I never had to deal with panic attacks. Where violence is not mistaken for love. Where love isn't something you beg for. Where I would have been that child who was loved, the child who didn't have to soothe grown children who couldn't manage their temper...

Psychology lectures in my headphones help me distance myself from reality, help me forget where I'm heading and what awaits me.

I cross the pedestrian crossing and bump into a young man, our shoulders colliding, and our airpods falling out of our ears.

"Sorry," we said to each other, picked up our headphones, and continued on our way. I put my airpods back in and realized that one earbud was playing my lecture, but the other was playing a different melody, a piano melody. I stopped and turned around to see the person I had bumped into, who was standing on the other side of the road, equally puzzled.

He crossed the road and approached me, handing me my earbud.

"That was strange, wasn't it?" he said with the most pleasant and sincere smile,that I ever seen

I nodded. "Yeah."

"I think this is the most unusual way to meet someone, don't you think?" He extended his hand. "My name is Atlas."

I shook his hand and smiled. "I'm Lisa, Elizabeth."

"Nice to meet you," he said with the same smile. "Are you in a hurry? There's a coffee shop nearby. I was heading there. May I invite you?"

He said this with the same sincere smile, without any reproach. He invited me for coffee. He would have walked on with the same smile if I had refused. He wouldn't have insisted, but I didn't want to miss this chance. I don't know why, but I wanted to get to know him better, so I couldn't refuse.

"No, I'm free. I also wanted to take a walk and drink something hot."

"Great! It's a perfect day for a cup of coffee and a pleasant conversation. I love discussing things with people over coffee. This way," he said, pointing the way and gesturing with his hand for me to go ahead as a sign of respect. We arrived at the coffee shop, which was not far from where we met. Upon arrival, he opened the door and let me in first, then entered himself. He asked for my coat and hung it up next to his. Such small gestures, but I already respected him for his good manners.

"Elizabeth, what kind of coffee do you like?" he asked, looking at the menu.

"Americano."

"With sugar?"

"Yes, and what do you like?"

"I'm not very picky about it, as long as it's sweet. I mostly drink latte."

We placed our orders and began our conversation.

"Elizabeth, you didn't recognize me, did you?"

"I've seen you a few times at the university, but I didn't know you."

"I attend additional classes; I don't study here."

"I didn't know we had additional courses."

"Well, one of your professors is my former piano teacher. As a devoted student, I decided to take lessons from him rather than learn from his less successful replacement."