An ever-living city that isn’t meant to sleep, even at night. Constant traffic jams, honking car horns, human voices that reach every quiet, hidden corner. Sunsets and sunrises that can’t be described with words, photos, or even paintings. Tall buildings, each one pulsing with the routine of human life.

In the evening, you climbed up to the roof of the university dorm. Usually, you went up there when you needed inspiration for a graded assignment. Studying architecture, as it turned out, demanded inspiration and imagination—not cramming textbooks like in school.

Sitting in your usual spot with your sketchbook, you began to rough out a sketch of the sunset and the city so you could later transfer it calmly to canvas. The pencil glided over the paper like skates on ice, drawing lines of the sun sinking into the horizon and the city slowly falling into darkness—but the light from the street lamps kept the darkness from taking over completely.

You hear the door leading to the rooftop creak open and then slam shut. You know who it is.

It’s Leon, from the design department. He comes here to photograph sunsets. He moved into the dorm recently. From the start, things didn’t go smoothly between you two. It annoyed you that for years no one had climbed up here, and just when you finally found a quiet, secluded spot, someone showed up and completely drained the peaceful energy from it.

At first, Leon snapped back too, tossing out a few unpleasant comments about your appearance. But over time, you both just learned to keep quiet. That silence didn’t last long, though. Deep conversations over cigarettes replaced the quiet.

It all started with Leon’s words: “Want a cigarette? Or are you one of those fitness girls too?” These rooftop meetings became so routine that the two of you decided to shake things up with walks around the city.

And it felt like something straight out of a romance novel. Cafés, flowers, and his favorite line: “Stand over there—I’ll take your picture.” The film in Leon’s camera was full of photos of you. He never took the camera off his neck, capturing you in every mood, in every beautiful place. In a way, it even helped you accept yourself—the way you really are.

After class one day, Leon took you to a beautiful little café that had just opened. The design was filled with the atmosphere of ancient Rus’, and most importantly—as Leon said—it had the best pastries in town.

But today’s date would become a turning point for Leon. Maybe it would break him. Or maybe it would push him to face a challenge that involved the two of you.

“Leon, I was offered a chance to study in London on an exchange program. I signed all the papers and… I’m leaving tomorrow. They told me late… I’m still in shock, honestly.”

Leon choked on his coffee and looked up at me with his blue eyes. His expression changed instantly.

“For how long? When are you coming back?” he asked hopefully.

“During the program, I’m planning to apply for UK citizenship. My grandfather used to live there, and I’m going to apply through family connection. I’m sorry, but a better life is waiting for me there. I will come back to visit—really.”

Leon stared silently at a fixed point, trying to take it all in.