He opened the door quietly, and they went inside. TV was on, loudly reporting on the death of Elena Yarskaya, lights were turned on in the hall. They walked up and froze.

– Who’s there? – A voice asked.

– Sergey, it’s me, – she came out of hiding.

– Lena! But you…

A short-cut, black-and-gray-haired man of about forty-five stood looking at his wife. He was wearing faded jeans and a dark blue sweater.

– What’s the matter with you? – She came closer and touched his face, seeing the marks of beatings on it.

– You’re alive! The main thing is that you’re alive! – He hugged his wife and noticed Pavel.

– Who are you? – Sergey asked.

– Sergey, I have not introduced you two. This is my savior.

– And how did it happen?.. – He wanted to say that she was considered dead.

But she did not let him finish.

– Well, then it must be so.

– They searched for your diary, Lena. By the way, they showed me your photo, too, – Sergey turned to Pavel. – Soon is April 4 – presidential elections. Yes, yes, Cheburashka can fail.

– Beasts! – Elena sighed and lowered her head. – Sergey, do not tell anyone that I came. Okay?

Pavel understood that they needed to talk and he – to leave them alone. He went outside and got in the car.

– Sergey, I would like to say thank you for everything you have done for me…

– Well, wait, – he tried to hug her.

– Don’t interrupt me, – Elena snapped. – Thank you for what you have done for me. We will never meet again.

Sergey watched her, not looking away. She turned and left. Sergey was left alone. He did not want to run after her, realizing that it was useless. Anyway, he got a lot: five years of her life, joint life with him. And now he was standing in an empty hallway and listened to the sound of her footsteps – of the woman he loved, who was going away forever and who would never return. Once in the car, Elena did not say anything for a long time. Pavel was silent and waited for an order.

– Go, – she said.

– Where to? – Pavel asked.

– Straight.

He started. They drove back to the city. Elena still did not say anything – only told him where to go further. Pavel thought that it did not become easier for her after that visit.

– Take me, for example, – he said cheerfully. – Today I told my boss that he is an asshole!

Lena looked at him in surprise.

– And my mood is wonderful! And you say goodbye in such a sad way! There is in fact a sacred female commandment: “Do not be sad, otherwise your breasts will be bad”.

His joke succeeded. Elena smiled and rejuvenated.

– How so? Did you get sick and tired of him?

– Ah, – Pavel shrugged. – An asshole is an asshole. You just endure it, and then fly over the handle… But in general, it became easier. And after that I went for a walk.

– Oh, I see. And what are you now?

– I’ll find another job.

– Be sure to find it. Everything will be fine.

They were silent for some time.

Soon Pavel started to realize, where they came; the area seemed very familiar to him.

– Novo-Ogaryovo? – He asked.

– Yes, it is. Cheburashka lives here.

– Residence of the President, cool! And is he a loved one?

– Well, – Elena began to gesticulate. – It just happened so, – she added with humor. – We met at a reception in honor of the anniversary of something. We talked

for a long time, then fled from everybody to the balcony, and drank champagne.

Three minutes – and I fell in love. I was looking at him, with my mouth open, and he continued to say something. Then he admitted that it was the same thing with him. I have never loved so, and it came late to me, I was already married. And then he walked me home through the night Moscow. It turned out that in order to see how people live he often walks around the city by himself. We searched the most unusual places of the capital. Still, we have an amazing city. Then we started dating, and Misha appeared – the best man in the whole world. But… he’s married, and then he has another love – politics… Yesterday I was going to tell him to dare to something: whether abandon his wife and politics and stay with me, or…

Elena sighed. Then she grinned.

– You know, I wanted to tell him that he is an asshole! I was so angry. I can’t stay with Sergey, I don’t love him, it all became unbearable… Let’s go?

– Elena Mikhailovna, who will let us in? Maybe you have a right to entry, but not me – of that I’m sure.

– Pasha, don’t be a chicken! It’s Russia. Here, there is a hole in each fence! –

She said cheerfully.

– What, in this too?

Pavel stared at Lena with surprised eyes. She said nothing – just smiled.

Approaching a long white fence, beyond which there was the residence, Lena took off her shoes, threw one of them over the fence, then the second one.

– Follow me! – She commanded. Pavel shook his head, but obeyed.

The guard was interested in flown items, so they climbed through a secret passage and entered the territory of the residence. They found themselves in front of a huge oak tree in the park – and stood there with their legs apart and their hands behind the back.

– Elena Mikhailovna! – Chief of the guard was screaming at her, surrounded by his subordinates. – There, there is a door! And above it, there is a doorbell!

– Boys, –she began playfully, turning to them. – Pavel and I were walking past the residence. I was in a good mood. There was nobody in the street, and I allowed myself a weakness – tossed up a shoe, and it accidentally flew over the fence. So I decided to climb in, but I would not climb in one shoe, like a fool. That’s why I threw the second one.

– Kostya! – Chief of the guard shouted to his subordinate, who stood at a distance. – Come here, you should hear this.

The young man approached.

– That’s what I love you for, Elena Mikhailovna. Every time you penetrate here you come up with a new explanation, and you have never repeated yourself in your explanations!

– I thought Cheburashka was not alone, – Lena explained guiltily.

Chief of the guard sighed and said:

– Victoria Eduardovna is absent. She will not return soon.

– Your hand, Pavel, – Elena approached Pavel. He silently handed her an elbow. She took Pavel’s arm and, watched by the six guards, they went to the two-story house at the end of the square. Other guards opened the door for them. Pavel

and Lena entered the house and mounted the stairs to the second floor. There, at the door, they stopped.

– Pasha, I can’t face him!

She became worried, as a person worries before an important conversation in life.

– Well, come on! We got through such things here! – Pavel became indignant.

She hesitated.

– Listen. You start first: introduce yourself and so on, and I… I’ll hide here and then I’ll go out from behind a corner.

– Well, what… – Pavel rebelled. But seeing how hard it all was for her, he gave in. Meanwhile, someone was going to the door and, seeing a familiar silhouette, Elena hid around the corner.

– Hello, Anatoliy Mikhailovich.

– Hello, Pavel Nikolayevich.

– Do you know my name?

Pavel did not expect it. Inside, he realized that there was a guard and other informants, but he was pleased that a person of such high rank called him by name.

– But you did not come alone, – the owner of the house began delicately.

– No. She said to tell you that she sees your relationship differently, that they should be built on a different basis, on the basis of mutual understanding.

– I just feel as if at a meeting. Where is she? Is she alive?

– Yes, yes, everything is fine. She asked me to tell you that…

– That you are an asshole! That’s what I wanted to tell you, – she came from behind a cover, placing hands on the belt.

– Pasha, go take a walk!