Arthur. Part one.

The sun, as if through a magnifying glass, tried to light a fire on every object, and on every person. And even sitting in the house, behind the blackout curtains, you could still feel the painful rays of the sun.

This heat created perfect silence around. The land, the whole city fell into silence. And even the water in the sea was calm, as if tired, longing for a cool breeze. And even the narrow roads were tired.

The sun has silenced everyone, and people sit at home and dream of an evening when a light breeze can calm them down and return their minds to normal.

But only Adelard, sitting directly under the sun that shone through the open window, did not complain that his skin turned red and beads of sweat covered his forehead.

Looking just ahead, into the farthest corner of the corridor that led straight into the garden, he did not think at all, he did not dream, he just sat. There was nothing strange in his position, but it seemed as if something frightened him.

He was holding in his hand a silver spoon, which has already become like a red-hot coal, which has already left a red mark on his delicate skin.

And only when Suzanne noticed it and shouted, he came to his senses.

"What's wrong with you? Your face scares me."

"Is it possible to feel the time when you will die?" Adelard asked suddenly.

Exchanging glances with Nicholas, Suzanne made the most worried look and quietly said, "You can tell me everything. You know that."

Still looking forward, at the very end of the corridor, Adelard took a deep breath and then with a sigh said, "Forget it. I just did not get enough sleep. So I say all kinds of things. Well, where do you want to go today?"

“I don’t think today is a good day for walking,” Nicholas said.

"Adelard works too hard. He never really lived. You're old now. Yes, let me be honest. And you still live and don't change anything," Suzanne said all this so loudly that the cook with too red hair looked out from the window with a very surprised expression on his face.

And then Adelard smiled and this smile brought him back to life.

"You smile. But time is passing. And time will not smile back at you," Susanna said nervously, as if she was his teacher.

"And what will you order me to do?"

"I want you to move to New York. There, everything is different! There, you can feel life! I cannot explain it, but in this city, you can be alive, you can live and at the same time feel eternity. There, you will never be afraid, you will never be sad. Adelard, how long do you want to live like this?! Enough, let's start living! "

"I live Suzanne. Here is my home and here are my factories. I live, I feel life when I breathe in the scent of new soap, which has not yet become solid. I am happy when I hear the noise of machines and the voices of workers. I am happy when I give them an award for good work. And I like to make them happy, to see them happy. I like to hear their stories about how they bought a new house at the very end of the city. This is my world. Besides, I am in love. And I want to love her always."

"Your kindness will destroy you. Adelard, I have a bad feeling. When I arrived and saw you, I immediately felt something. I just saw a kind of veil around you. I don't know, but I'm not calm. And I want to take you away from here. Because, I know that only this way, I can save you."

"Save from love?" Adelard asked and laughed loudly. The laughter gave him the strength to stand and vigorously climb up the stairs.

"Where are you going?"

"I'll be right back. You wait here!" he exclaimed and walked energetically towards his room.

And only when Suzanne and Nicholas were alone, Suzanne approached the servant and asked, "You don't notice anything strange?!"

Nicholas, being too introverted, not looking at a woman who was much taller than him, replied, "Monsieur Adelar is not an ordinary person."

"No. I do not mean that. I mean that he is somehow different these days. Don't you think so?"

Nicholas shook his head and made it clear that he didn't like talking behind his master's back.

Noticing this, Suzanne patted him too hard on the back and said, "Don't worry. We're not saying anything bad. I'm just worried about him. Nicholas, you've been with him for a long time. He listens to you and respects you. Maybe you can tell him, so that he leave with me?! I feel something and I don't feel good. My intuition has never deceived me. I ask you to talk to him."

Before Nicholas had time to say anything, Adelard was already standing in front of them, in his new dark red suit.

"Adelard dear, you are like an angel. How beautiful you are!" Suzanne exclaimed, covering her face with her hands.

"You're embarrassing me."

"You are an angel. That's who you are. You are just an angel."

"I do not think so."

"Monsieur, be careful. It's too hot. Take your umbrella with you," Nicholas said.

"I'll be in the carriage. Well, let's go?!"

When they both got into the carriage, which was led by two snow-white horses, Nicholas experienced fast heartbeat. Suzanne's words stuck in his head. But without attaching importance to them, he simply thought that because of the heat, he felt bad, and therefore, as soon as the carriage was out of sight, he went to his room.

As expected, the place Suzanne wanted to show was too noisy and crowded.

In the building of a small cafe, where at the same time it was possible to read books, Adelard found a quiet place in the very corner. Holding in his hands a book, too thick for his graceful hands, he did not pay attention to all the fun that was around him.

And even if Suzanne danced and laughed with strangers, he still continued to sit in his world. There was only one thing in his head, and this one was Celeste.

But on the one hand, he didn’t know why he couldn’t stop thinking about her. And he even felt, as if his personality was gradually moving away from him, leaving for him only one image of Celeste, a girl who is still mysterious and behind a shadow.

The loud music was just a pitiful noise for him. And these verses before his eyes turned into a stream of identical words, which were repeated - Celeste.

And along with this name, he began to feel pain in his heart because of the longing for her. The feeling that made him suffer was the most common love. But there was nothing he could do about it. He just sat there and hoped that he would see her tonight.

"Are you always so sad?" Suddenly someone's voice interrupted his meditation.

He looked up and his dreamy gaze fell on a tall man in a brown suit. And not only was the suit brown, but also his hair and even a tan.

Adelard was not able to support the conversation that had just arisen. All his attention was on the brown color, which surrounded and described this man.

With a gleam in his eyes, the stranger reached out and said, "My name is Arthur. Judging by your look, you don't know me."

Coming to his senses, Adelard smiled awkwardly. Something told him that this man was a very good person. And when it came to good people, Adelard always got weaker.

But he could not admire this stranger for a long time, because the thoughts of Celeste completely closed his eyes.

What could be more incomprehensible than a person who is in love?

Arthur, a man who was not going to give up, sat down next to him and even if the sofa was too small, he still managed to find a comfortable position and start talking.

"I am a friend of Suzanne. We are colleagues and just friends. Sometimes, she is like an older sister to me. There are times when I just want to forget about everything and I start to go crazy. That's when Suzanne comes to my aid. It doesn't matter if it is day or night. It doesn't matter if she works or not. She is always so kind. But it is a pity that she didn't talk about me."

Stopping to speak, Arthur lightly touched Adelard's knee and smiling so that all his teeth were visible, he silently began to examine the face of his quiet companion.

Brown eyes, a Greek nose, too thick eyebrows, a small star-shaped mole under the right eye, a slightly open mouth and vigorous movements during a conversation, it all looked so much like Suzanne, who suddenly disappeared from sight. And Adelard had to sit and think about why this man named Arthur didn't take his hand off his shoulder.

With only one thought in his head, namely "Celeste", he said, "I understand you. Suzanne can be a mother and a friend to me too. But when she says that she could fall in love with me, then I get scared. Sometimes I wonder about who is she to me. Mother, friend or woman."

Arthur laughed loudly and as if he had known him for many years, put his arm around his shoulders and, imperceptibly for everyone, pulled him to him.

"Yes, she knows how to be a mystery. And besides, she knows how to be everything. The whole world, to be more precise."

Adelard, having descended to the ground, now, saw this man in front of him.

"So you are colleagues?!" he asked.

But the music got too loud and this little place turned into complete chaos.

Before Adelard had time to say, Arthur grabbed his arm and dragged him with all his might towards the open door. It was only when they were out in the open that Adelard noticed that it was already night.

“How fast time flies. And just a few minutes ago the sun was shining brightly,” Adelard said, inhaling the scent of the strawberries that were everywhere in the little shops.

"Come on. Hurry!" Arthur, grabbing his hand, dragged him again.

The night city was full of stars and moonlight. Adelard liked the way the Moonlight covered the asphalt and with every step he walked over a bridge that led somewhere into the distance, he could feel the coolness of the air.

Adelard on the wings of love, was still able to take off and find himself among all these stars.

Stopping on a small bridge, Arthur, laughing, put his hand on Adelard's shoulder.

And Adelard said, "We barely know each other, and you act like I am your old friend."

"I thought you were shy. But look! You're already making your comments!"

"So who are you?!" Adelard found the courage to ask. He clearly felt comfortable with this man, but thoughts about Celeste told him otherwise.

Arthur, not paying attention to the people passing by, just sat down on the ground and casually took off his jacket. As it turned out, he was very slim and fit. It was the body of a man who never knew laziness.

Dangling his legs down, right above a small pond where ducks were swimming peacefully, Arthur said, "I told you who I am."

Sitting next to him, Adelard caught the curious glances of people who began to whisper about something. But he didn't care. After all, he liked this moment and he definitely wanted to add this moment to the list of the most beautiful times in his life.

Feeling the warmth emanating from the small stones on which he sat, Adelard plunged into the warmest memories of his childhood. And only the man who sat next to him and threw small stones into the pond said that he had long been an adult.

"Suzanne told me that you need help. Therefore, she sent me to you," Arthur said suddenly.

"I don't need help. But she always thinks that I always need help. She must have told you a lot about me. But half of what she said is just unnecessary worries."

"I heard a lot about you. I read the books of all your grandmothers. Your family, all your relatives, they are all so talented. And now I look at you and feel incredible strength. I cannot explain it. But in short, you are my hero."

"I never knew how to treat compliments."

"You probably always hear those words. You have to get used to it." Putting his hand on his back and slowly circling his index finger, Arthur continued, “It may be strange. But I've always followed you and your family. Since childhood. And I think I know you too well."

Adelard could not understand this man in any way, but nevertheless, he listened to him with a slight smile on his face.

"I always wanted to be like you. And therefore, I chose this path. And Suzanne helped me a lot. To be become who I am now. She made me understand that I want to be part of fashion, part of progress. And over time, I realized that I want to live among beauty and make this world more beautiful."

"So you, like Suzanne, dress beautiful women?! Do you have your own atelier?!"

"I have my own clothing line. You probably have not heard of this line, there are mainly men's suits and wedding dresses. And Suzanne, she runs my market. This suit, I made it myself. Do you like it?!"

And even in the moonlight, Adelard could see with what skill this jacket was sewn, which now lay on his knees.

"But my contribution to society is not great. I'm not from your family. Your family created everything that could be created. Although, I think I use my life to good use. But sometimes it seems to me that something is not right, is not enough," Arthur said and lay down on the warm asphalt.

His brown curly hair fits perfectly around his head, giving the illusion of a crown.

From that angle, Adelard was able to notice that this man had pleasant facial features that deserve to be among all the beautiful poems.

Noticing the condemning glances, Adelard also lay down on the ground and now, before his eyes, a million stars floated.

"I know almost all the constellations," Adelard suddenly said, remembering Celeste's face and imagining her among all these beautiful stars that possibly serve as the Sun for some planets.

"I also know all about the stars," Arthur added.

For a while, they were silent, and in this silence there was something dear, homely.

"Now I think I know why Suzanne left me at that cafe. She wanted to introduce me to you so that I could feel life," Adelar said.

And while he was saying this, a man and a woman walked past them and they said something unpleasant about them. But their words went unheard.

Arthur, rising to his elbows, looked at Adelard and smiled, but rather with a mockery.

"So who do you need in this life? Brother, friend or someone else?!" Arthur asked, putting on his jacket.

Unable to make the slightest movement, Adelard said, "Let's stay here a little longer."

"You haven't answered my question."