Laurus

by Eugene Vodolazkin

Sometimes you wonder if it is worth getting attached to people if it will be this difficult to part with them later. Arseny slapped Brother Hugo on the back as he embraced him: You know, O friend, any meeting is surely more than parting. There is emptiness before meeting someone, just nothing, but there is no longer emptiness after parting. After having met someone once, it is impossible to part completely. A person remains in the memory, as a part of the memory. The person created that part and that part lives, sometimes coming into contact with its creator. Otherwise, how would we sense those dear to us from a distance?

I am apparently growing accustomed to what one cannot grow accustomed to, he told Ustina. This proves yet again, my love, that, although there is cowardice, there is no shortage of strength.

Why give birth for death? boyar Frol said to the servants of his house. But everyone is born for death, the servants objected. We have yet to see other types.

What kind of people are you? says the merchant Zygfryd. A person heals you, dedicates his whole life to you, and you torture him his whole life. And when he dies, you tie a rope to his feet, drag him, and tears stream down your faces. You have already been in our land for a year and eight months, answers blacksmith Averky, but have not understood a thing about it. And do you yourselves understand it? asks Zygfryd. Do we? The blacksmith mulls that over and looks at Zygfryd. Of course we, too, do not understand.