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<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
You will become the brightest star, the most talented of all. You will surely be noticed, and your name will appear on all the billboards.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sofia wept, her face buried in the plaid that had once covered her father. His hand, weak yet still warm, slid through her hair.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t cry, my little girl, there\u2019s no need. You can\u2019t cheat fate. Just listen to me,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n
Sofia lifted her tear-stained face. Her father spoke so softly, as if every word was a struggle:<\/p>\n
\u201cJust don\u2019t interrupt. I have no strength left\u2026 Once there were two of us\u2014Mikhail and me, Grigory. We were inseparable friends, even having sworn by our blood that our friendship would last forever. And then your mother appeared. We both fell in love with her. You see, when love develops between people, friendship often takes a back seat. Mother chose me, and Mikhail could not come to terms with it.<\/p>\n
But he is a wonderful man. If you ever feel completely overwhelmed, you can turn to him. He will not abandon you. He now owns the \u2018Breeze\u2019 restaurant. Remember that, Sofia. It may one day save you. There is something else, but if he wishes, he will tell you himself\u2026<\/p>\n
Remember: I love you with all my heart, believe in you, and know\u2014you will cope.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sofia hugged her father tightly, and suddenly his body tensed, then went slack.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad! Dad!\u201d her cry echoed through the room.<\/p>\n
They pulled her away from the bed. Doctors were bustling about, running back and forth, while Sofia watched the events as if from a distance. One thought spun in her head: \u201cI am alone. I am completely alone in this world.\u201d<\/p>\n
The next day, after the memorial service and once the guests had departed, the stepmother glared at Sofia coldly:<\/p>\n
\u201cTomorrow, go find a job. I\u2019m not going to feed you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I\u2019m studying\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStudying? Ha! You won\u2019t get by on songs. If you can\u2019t find a job, you\u2019ll be out on the street. Got it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut this is my home!\u201d<\/p>\n
The stepmother sprang up, her eyes flashing:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? Your home? Ha! This is my home. I\u2019m your father\u2019s legal wife. So shut up. And know: I\u2019m speaking nicely now. But I can do it otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sofia ran out of the room, slamming the door behind her. All night she wept, clutching a photograph of her father. By morning, she decided: her father had left enough money for her to finish her studies and try to fulfill his dream.<\/p>\n
He had always wanted her to sing. Since childhood, she had won competitions. Her teachers said it was hard to break through, but even if it didn\u2019t work out, her voice would always feed her.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust imagine: anyone who hears your name\u2014Sofia Grigorieva\u2014will never forget it,\u201d they had told her.<\/p>\n
She smiled. Yes, her father had done his best. She was not just Grigorieva, but also Grigoryevna.<\/p>\n
In the morning, Sofia got ready and went to class. She tried not to make any noise so as not to wake her stepmother. She would study, no matter what it cost. That was what Dad wanted.<\/p>\n
When she returned, she saw her stepmother on the porch. Sofia slowed her pace, hoping she would leave, but the stepmother stood there, never taking her eyes off her.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, did you find a job?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was at school.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sofia wanted to walk past, but the stepmother blocked her way.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt school, huh? So you want to become a singer?\u201d she said, placing her hands on her hips. \u201cWhat kind of singer could you be? Your voice is like rusty hinges, and you have no brains. With your looks, you should be mopping floors, not climbing onto a stage. I warned you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The stepmother pulled out a suitcase and a bag.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere, take your things and get out. Go sing in the underpasses, scare passersby. Maybe you\u2019ll get a break there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sofia stared at the suitcase with wide eyes, but the stepmother had already gone inside and slammed the door. Sofia heard the locks click. She grabbed her things and ran out of the yard.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh God, please let no one see this. Let Dad rest in peace where he is now!\u201d<\/p>\n
Sofia trudged down the street, dragging her suitcase. There were no more tears, no more thoughts. There were no relatives. Both her father and mother had grown up as orphans. She didn\u2019t know what to do.<\/p>\n
As darkness began to fall, she stopped. In front of her stood the \u2018Breeze\u2019 restaurant. It was exactly the place her father had told her about. There was no choice. She approached the door. A young man met her.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood evening. Allow me, I\u2019ll help with your things and see you to a table.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, thank you. Could I see the owner of the restaurant? Mikhail?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMikhail Yuryevich?\u201d<\/p>\n
The young man looked at her with doubt.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll find out.\u201d<\/p>\n
After a minute, he returned with a tall, dignified man of about forty-five.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it you who were looking for me?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sofia nodded.<\/p>\n
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\n\u201cI\u2019m listening.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2026 I am the daughter of Elena and Grigory Grigoryev. Dad said that if I ever needed help, I could come to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cElena and Grigory? And why can\u2019t Grisha help his own daughter?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no more father. He died a few days ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mikhail flinched. Sofia couldn\u2019t hold back her tears. The young man handed her some napkins.<\/p>\n
\u201cPerhaps some water?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mikhail seemed to come back to his senses.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaxim, take these things to my office and bring some water.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUnderstood.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mikhail gently embraced Sofia by the shoulders.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease, calm down. I had no idea.\u201d<\/p>\n
Once Sofia calmed a bit, he set a chair in front of her and sat down beside her.<\/p>\n
\u201cTell me, what happened? Why are you carrying suitcases?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDad had been ill for a long time. After Mom\u2019s death, things got really bad. A friend of hers, Zhanna, appeared in our house. She pretended to care for Dad, but I could see\u2014she didn\u2019t love him. No one believed me, since I was just a child. A year and a half later, she moved in with us. That was the first time Dad ended up in the hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe doctors said his heart was worn out, like an old man\u2019s. Zhanna brought him comfort and lived in the house. When Dad was discharged, he did not kick her out. Later, they registered.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI had hoped that everything would get better, but\u2026 Dad worked too hard, even though the doctors forbade it. He always said that his little star deserved a bright future. He believed I would become a star.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore he died, he told me about your friendship and said that if I ever felt down, I could come to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sofia looked up.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said that you were like brothers, but then Mom appeared.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mikhail smiled sadly.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom did not want to become the cause of our quarrel. She hesitated for a long time to choose, even tried to leave so as not to ruin our friendship. But it was too late. Grisha stopped her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSofia, even though we haven\u2019t spoken much over the years, Grigory and Elena will always be dear to me. You can count on me as a father. Do you want to build a career?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I just want to live a normal life, work\u2026 and if possible, finish my studies.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mikhail Yuryevich thought for a moment, then asked:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat if I offered you to live with me? Would you agree? I have a big house in the center. If not, I can get you a hotel for a few days until we find something suitable.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMay I come with you? I don\u2019t want to be alone\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Sofia sniffled, and Mikhail added softly:<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course. I\u2019m all for it. I live alone, aside from a fat, lazy cat who ignores me because he considers me useless.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sofia smiled weakly.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do you know what he thinks?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I come by, he is already fed, clean, and ironed\u2014the housekeeper adores him. And when I try to pet or call him, he disdainfully flicks his tail and walks away.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mikhail looked seriously at the girl.<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand how hard this must be for you, but believe me: Grigory was right. I will do everything I can to help you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWere you really that close friends? Why did you stop talking?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were friends. But life sometimes complicates things so much that it\u2019s hard to tell who is right and who is wrong. Perhaps I\u2019ll tell you about it later.\u201d<\/p>\n
A few days later, as Sofia began to recover, Mikhail invited her to a caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s go, talk, and figure out what to do next.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCould we not go to a caf\u00e9? Maybe to your restaurant? I\u2019ve never been there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mikhail insisted that Sofia continue her studies.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut how am I supposed to live? You\u2019re not obligated to support me. I wanted to find a job.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWait.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before he could finish, the young man who had met Sofia earlier ran up to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cMikhail Yuryevich, we have an emergency!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn half an hour, there\u2019s an anniversary. The contract stipulates a live performance. The problem is\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs Artem not coming again?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mikhail clutched his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is the story? Again?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright, let\u2019s start calling everyone who has performed for us before.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone has already been contacted. If we do not meet the conditions, we\u2019ll have to pay a penalty.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, Maxim. To hell with it, the penalty, but the reputation\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Sofia cautiously touched his hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cUncle Mikhail, I can sing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? Are you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. Don\u2019t worry, I\u2019ll manage.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked at her for a long time.<\/p>\n
\u201cSofia, it\u2019s not necessary. Besides, you\u2019ve never sung in a restaurant. It\u2019s noisy here, and the atmosphere is completely different.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything will be fine. I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Sofia began to sing, a complete silence fell over the hall. Mikhail sat at his table all evening. During her last song, he quietly murmured:<\/p>\n
\u201cElena\u2026 I promise, our daughter will become a star.\u201d<\/p>\n
Years ago, Mikhail had behaved badly toward Elena. He had been too insistent, and she got scared. When she realized she was pregnant, she decided to leave. Grigory stopped her and learned the truth.<\/p>\n
The friends had a terrible fight. Mikhail realized his mistake, but he did not want to admit it. Later he apologized, but it was too late. Grigory asked him never to cross paths with them again. Now Mikhail decided that Sofia should not know that story. It would have traumatized her.<\/p>\n
Zhanna and her new husband pulled up to the restaurant.<\/p>\n
\u201cFinally!\u201d the man sighed.<\/p>\n
Zhanna loved to display her \u201csuperiority.\u201d They didn\u2019t have much money, but she had chosen this restaurant specifically to impress her friends. They were already seated when she entered, proudly summoning the waiter.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat kind of entertainment do you have? Is anyone going to sing?\u201d<\/p>\n
The waiter smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are incredibly lucky. For a couple of days, Sofia, the little star, has come to us. She is from here and will perform today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her friends gasped:<\/p>\n
\u201cIt can\u2019t be! Wow!\u201d<\/p>\n
Zhanna had heard something about her, but pretended not to know.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I didn\u2019t even know she was from our town.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, she studied and started here. Perhaps you remember Grigory Grigoryev?\u201d<\/p>\n
Zhanna paled.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrigory Grigoryev?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her husband looked at her in surprise.<\/p>\n
\u201cWasn\u2019t your surname Grigoryeva?\u201d<\/p>\n
Zhanna turned to him:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat a coincidence. As always, you understand nothing. And the restaurant choice is wrong. Everything is off\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked around and pointed somewhere with her finger.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese burgundy curtains are awful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her husband widened his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow was I to know that you choose a restaurant by its curtains? And why are burgundy curtains bad if your bedroom has the same?\u201d<\/p>\n
Zhanna, in anger, pushed the chair aside and sat with her back to the stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh my God, what a husband I have! All other husbands are decent, but mine just ruins every celebration.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence fell over the hall. Almost immediately, a girlish voice began to sing a sad melody. Zhanna crumpled a napkin and tossed it onto the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd now what? Are we going to listen to this little singer for the rest of my party?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her husband sighed and stood up.<\/p>\n
\u201cGirls, excuse me. I\u2019ll come back later to drive you home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zhanna watched him with a bewildered look and sighed heavily.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow you\u2019ll have to sit like a statue. Not turning around, not dancing\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
You will become the brightest star, the most talented of all. You will surely be noticed, and your name will appear on all the billboards.\u201d Sofia wept,… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":23703,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23702","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n