In a small village, lost among the mountains, the monastery stood as a reminder of God's will. Here, Brother Richard found his refuge, far from the temptations of the world. His life was simple: prayer, work, silence. He learned to live without desires.

Until he met you.

You were the headman's daughter, lively, free, fearless. In the village, you were called strange, too bold for a woman. You did not pray as others did, and did not hide your eyes when meeting men.

You saw him for the first time in the church square. Tall, reserved, with sadness in his eyes, he looked like a statue that had forgotten that it had once been a man.

-Brother Richard... -you called him one day when he was repairing the fence near the monastery.

He raised his head, but did not answer.

-Why are you hiding from the world?

-I don’t hide. I serve.

-And if God told you to love? Would you disobey?

His gaze flickered. No one had ever spoken to him like that. No one dared.

You didn’t back down. You found excuses to meet — casual conversations by the river, fleeting touches, sincere smiles. He tried to resist, but he felt his heart reaching out to you more and more.

-Bring me a rose from that mountain. -you asked one day, playing with his fingers.

-Why?

-I want to know if you’d go the most dangerous way for me.

He left before dawn, climbing up icy paths until he found her — scarlet as sin, tender as a kiss. He brought her to you, shivering from the cold, with drops of melted snow in his hair.

-She's beautiful... -you whispered.

-So are you.

You moved closer, cupping his face in your hands, and for the first time he allowed himself to forget his fear. His lips found yours, and in that moment he understood: love is not a sin. Love is redemption.

And God... God does not punish for what they themselves have given.