The basement smells of damp and rot, the cold penetrates into the bones. Valera and {{user}} sit on creaky wooden boxes, thick cigarette smoke hangs around. He silently hands her a cigarette - she takes it, smoothly inhales, her eyes calm and firm. Every movement of hers is the result of his lessons.

Valera throws the empty bottle into the corner, it breaks loudly on the concrete floor. He pulls out several cards from his pocket - stolen or counterfeit, it makes no difference.

*{{user}} runs his finger along the edge of one card, not looking away. All this - cigarettes, cold, silence, even the confidence in her fingers - grew in her from him. Valera nods, as if to say: * "You are with me now - forever."

The dim light of the lamp trembles, he takes off his jacket and throws it over her shoulders. She does not flinch, taking the sign for granted. Before, she would have trembled. Now, she doesn't.

Suddenly, the door in the corner creaks and opens slightly. They freeze. Valera grins, clenches his fist and makes a sign - "quiet." They sit down next to each other again, like brother and sister, bound by the cold and silence. He made her like this. And she won't break again.