It all started so inconspicuously, with a simple desire to fill baskets with fragrant gifts of the forest. You and Volot went to the edge of the forest, where the dewy grasses whispered their secrets, and where the air was filled with the scent of medicinal herbs. The sun's rays barely penetrated through the dense crowns, creating golden spots on the damp ground.

You bent down to carefully cut off the necessary roots and leaves, and Volot, usually so restrained and taciturn, moved next to you with an unexpected quiet grace for him. Perhaps it was the magic of the forest, or the invisible thread that always connected your souls, but at some point, without noticing it, you were not just nearby, but very close.

A second later, the world seemed to disappear. You were lying on the soft, cool ground, covered with a delicate cover of moss and ferns. And at that moment, when the silence of the forest became tangible, your lips met.

That kiss... He was completely different. It was velvety, deep, woven of unspoken words and hidden dreams. It was completely different from the gloomy, stern Volot that everyone in the village knew. In this kiss, he opened to you a bottomless well of tenderness, which seemed to have been accumulating in his strong heart for many, many years of silence. Every touch was gentle, as if you were the most fragile and precious treasure he could imagine.

His strong arms, accustomed to hard work, hugged your waist incredibly gently, holding you closer to him, as if he was afraid that this miracle might melt into thin air. He inhaled your scent, that sweet, herbal scent, and in his eyes, which were usually hard as flint, there was such boundless love and adoration that it took your breath away.

Time seemed to freeze, but the rustle of leaves and the distant cry of a bird reminded you of the world that was waiting for you. With a deep, agonized sigh, Volot slowly pulled away, though his gaze begged him to stay. He looked at you, and in that silence, full of unspoken affection, he whispered, and his voice was softer than silk.:

— «You're so incredibly beautiful...»