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<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
You will become the brightest star, the most talented of all. They will surely notice you, and your name will appear on all the posters.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Sophia cried, burying her face in the blanket that covered her father. His hand, weak but still warm, slid through her hair.<\/p>\n
\u00abDon\u2019t cry, my girl, please. You can\u2019t fool fate. Better listen to me,\u00bb he whispered.<\/p>\n
Sophia raised her tear-streaked face. Her father spoke barely audibly, as though each word cost him effort:<\/p>\n
\u00abJust don\u2019t interrupt me. I have no strength left\u2026 Once, there were two of us\u2014Mikhail and I, Grigory. We were inseparable friends, even swore on blood that our friendship would last forever. And then your mother appeared. We both loved her. Do you understand? When love comes between people, friendship often takes a back seat. Your mother chose me, and Mikhail couldn\u2019t accept it.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abBut he is a wonderful man. If it gets too hard for you, you can turn to him. He won\u2019t leave you. He owns the \u2018Breeze\u2019 restaurant now. Remember that, Sophia. Maybe one day, it will save you. There\u2019s more, but if he wants to, he\u2019ll tell you himself\u2026\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abRemember: I love you with all my heart, I believe in you, and I know\u2014you\u2019ll make it.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Sophia hugged her father tightly, and suddenly, his body tensed, then went limp.<\/p>\n
\u00abDad! Dad!\u00bb Her scream echoed through the room.<\/p>\n
She was pulled away from the bed. The doctors were running back and forth, and Sophia watched the scene as if from a distance. One thought spun in her head: \u00abI am alone. I am all alone in this world.\u00bb<\/p>\n
The next day, after the funeral, when the guests had left, her stepmother gave her a cold look.<\/p>\n
\u00abTomorrow, go find a job. I\u2019m not going to feed you.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abBut I\u2019m studying\u2026\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abStudying!?\u00bb her stepmother mocked. \u00abYou won\u2019t be fed with songs. If you don\u2019t find work, you\u2019ll be out on the street. Got it?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abBut this is my home!\u00bb<\/p>\n
The stepmother jumped up, her eyes flashing.<\/p>\n
\u00abWhat? Your home? Ha! This is my home. I am your father\u2019s lawful wife. So shut up. And know this: I\u2019m speaking kindly now. But I can speak differently.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Sophia ran out of the room, slamming the door behind her. She cried all night, holding her father\u2019s photo close. By morning, she had 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. From childhood, she had won competitions. Her teachers said it was hard to break through, but even if she didn\u2019t succeed, her voice would always be able to feed her.<\/p>\n
\u00abJust imagine: anyone who hears your name\u2014Sophia Grigorieva\u2014will never forget it,\u00bb they told her.<\/p>\n
She smiled. Yes, Dad had done his best. She wasn\u2019t just Grigorieva, but also Grigoryevna.<\/p>\n
In the morning, Sophia got ready and went to her classes. She tried to be quiet so she wouldn\u2019t wake her stepmother. She would study. No matter the cost. Dad wanted it that way.<\/p>\n
When she returned, she saw her stepmother on the porch. Sophia slowed her pace, hoping the woman would leave, but the stepmother stood, not taking her eyes off her.<\/p>\n
\u00abWell, did you find a job?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abI was at school.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Sophia tried to walk past, but the stepmother blocked her way.<\/p>\n
\u00abAt school, huh? You want to be a singer?\u00bb She put her hands on her hips. \u00abWhat singer are you? Your voice is like rusty hinges, no brains. You should be washing floors with your looks, not trying to get on stage. I warned you.\u00bb<\/p>\n
The stepmother pulled out a suitcase and a bag.<\/p>\n
\u00abHere, take your things and get out. You\u2019ll go sing in the subways, scare passersby. Maybe someone will give you something.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Sophia looked at the suitcase with wide eyes, but the stepmother went into the house and slammed the door. Sophia heard the locks click. She grabbed her things and ran out of the yard.<\/p>\n
\u00abGod, please let no one see this. Let Dad rest in peace, where he is now!\u00bb<\/p>\n
Sophia trudged down the street, dragging the suitcase. There were no more tears, no more thoughts. She had no relatives. Her parents had both grown up as orphans. She didn\u2019t know what to do.<\/p>\n
It was getting dark. She stopped. Ahead was the \u00abBreeze\u00bb restaurant. This was the place her father had told her about. There was no choice. She walked to the door. A young man greeted her.<\/p>\n
\u00abGood evening. Allow me, let me help with your things and take you to your table.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abNo, thank you. Can I see the owner of the restaurant? Mikhail?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abMikhail Yurievich?\u00bb<\/p>\n
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\nThe young man looked at her doubtfully.<\/p>\n
\u00abI\u2019ll check.\u00bb<\/p>\n
A minute later, he returned with a tall, distinguished man about forty-five years old.<\/p>\n
\u00abAre you looking for me?\u00bb<\/p>\n
Sophia nodded.<\/p>\n
\u00abI\u2019m listening.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abI\u2026 I\u2019m the daughter of Elena and Grigory Grigorieva. My father said that if I ever need help, I can turn to you.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abElena and Grigory? Why can\u2019t Grisha help his own daughter?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abMy father is no longer here. He passed away a few days ago.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Mikhail flinched. Sophia couldn\u2019t hold back her tears. The young man handed her tissues.<\/p>\n
\u00abWould you like some water?\u00bb<\/p>\n
Mikhail seemed to snap out of it.<\/p>\n
\u00abMaxim, take her things to my office and bring some water.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abUnderstood.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Mikhail gently put his arm around Sophia\u2019s shoulders.<\/p>\n
\u00abPlease, calm down. I didn\u2019t know.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Once Sophia calmed down a bit, he set a chair in front of her and sat next to her.<\/p>\n
\u00abTell me, what happened? Why are you with a suitcase?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abMy father had been sick for a long time. After my mother\u2019s death, things got worse. A woman named Zhanna appeared at our house. She pretended to support my father, but I saw she didn\u2019t love him. Nobody believed me because I was little. A year and a half later, she moved in with us. That\u2019s when my father first went to the hospital.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abThe doctors said his heart was worn out like an old man\u2019s. Zhanna brought him food and stayed at the house. When he was discharged, he didn\u2019t kick her out. They later got married.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abI hoped things would get better, but\u2026 Dad worked a lot, even though the doctors told him not to. He always said that his \u2018star\u2019 deserved a good future. He believed I would become a star.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abBefore he died, he told me about your friendship and said that if I needed help, I could turn to you.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Sophia looked up.<\/p>\n
\u00abHe said you were like brothers, but then mom came.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Mikhail smiled sadly.<\/p>\n
\u00abYour mom didn\u2019t want to be the reason for our quarrel. She hesitated for a long time, even tried to leave to not ruin our friendship. But it was too late. Grisha stopped her.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abSophia, even though we haven\u2019t spoken for many years, Grigory and Elena will always be family to me. You can count on me like a father. Do you want to build a career?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abNo, I just want to live a normal life, work\u2026 And if I can, finish my studies.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Mikhail Yurievich thought for a moment, then asked:<\/p>\n
\u00abWhat if I offer 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.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abCan I stay with you? I don\u2019t want to be alone\u2026\u00bb<\/p>\n
Sophia sniffled, and Mikhail gently added:<\/p>\n
\u00abOf course. I\u2019m all for it. I live alone, unless you count my fat lazy cat, who ignores me because he thinks I\u2019m useless.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Sophia smiled faintly.<\/p>\n
\u00abHow do you know what he thinks?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abWhen I come home, he\u2019s already fed, clean, and groomed\u2014the housekeeper loves him. And when I try to pet him or call him, he gives me a disdainful flick of the tail and walks away.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Mikhail looked seriously at the girl.<\/p>\n
\u00abI understand how hard it is for you right now, but believe me, Grigory was right. I\u2019ll do everything I can to help you.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abWere you really that close? Why did you stop talking?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abWe were friends. But life sometimes muddles everything up so that it\u2019s unclear who\u2019s right and who\u2019s wrong. Maybe I\u2019ll tell you this story later.\u00bb<\/p>\n
A few days later, Sophia had calmed down somewhat. Mikhail invited her to a cafe.<\/p>\n
\u00abLet\u2019s go, we\u2019ll talk, think about what to do next.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abCould we not go to a cafe? Maybe your restaurant? I\u2019ve never been there.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abOf course. Let\u2019s go.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Mikhail insisted that Sophia continue her studies.<\/p>\n
\u00abBut how will I live? You\u2019re not obliged to support me. I wanted to find a job.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abWait.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Before he could finish, the young man who had met Sophia earlier rushed to him.<\/p>\n
\u00abMikhail Yurievich, we have an emergency!\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abWhat happened?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abIn half an hour, there\u2019s an anniversary. The contract specifies live performance. The problem is\u2026\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abArtem won\u2019t show up again?\u00bb<\/p>\n
Mikhail grabbed his head.<\/p>\n
\u00abWhat\u2019s the story? Again?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abYes.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abOkay, let\u2019s start calling everyone who has performed here before.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abWe\u2019ve already called everyone. If we don\u2019t meet the conditions, we\u2019ll have to pay a penalty.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abAlright, Maxim. Forget the penalty, but the reputation\u2026\u00bb<\/p>\n
Sophia gently touched his hand.<\/p>\n
\u00abUncle Mikhail, I can sing.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abWhat? Are you sure?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abYes. Don\u2019t worry, I\u2019ll manage.\u00bb<\/p>\n
He stared at her for a long time.<\/p>\n
\u00abSophia, this isn\u2019t necessary. Besides, you\u2019ve never sung in a restaurant before. It\u2019s noisy here, and the atmosphere is completely different.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abIt\u2019ll be fine. I promise.\u00bb<\/p>\n
When Sophia began to sing, complete silence fell over the room. Mikhail sat at the table all evening. During the last song, he quietly said:<\/p>\n
\u00abElena\u2026 I promise, our daughter will become a star.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Years ago, Mikhail had behaved poorly toward Elena. He had been too persistent, and she got scared. When she found out she was pregnant, she decided to leave. Grigory stopped her and learned the truth.<\/p>\n
The friends had a big fight. Mikhail realized his mistake but didn\u2019t want to admit it. Later, he apologized, but it was too late. Grigory asked him never to contact them again. Now, Mikhail decided that Sophia didn\u2019t need to know this story. It would only hurt her.<\/p>\n
Zhanna and her new husband arrived at the restaurant.<\/p>\n
\u00abFinally!\u00bb the man sighed.<\/p>\n
Zhanna liked showing off her \u00absuperiority.\u00bb They didn\u2019t have much money, but she chose this restaurant to impress her friends. They were already sitting at the table when she entered, proudly signaling the waiter.<\/p>\n
\u00abWhat entertainment do you have? Is anyone going to sing?\u00bb<\/p>\n
The waiter smiled.<\/p>\n
\u00abYou\u2019re in luck. For a couple of days, we have Sophia the star. She\u2019s from here, and she\u2019ll be performing tonight.\u00bb<\/p>\n
The friends gasped:<\/p>\n
\u00abUnbelievable! No way!\u00bb<\/p>\n
Zhanna had also heard about her, but pretended not to know.<\/p>\n
\u00abAh, I didn\u2019t know she was from our town.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abYes, she studied here and started out. Perhaps you remember Grigory Grigorieva?\u00bb<\/p>\n
Zhanna paled.<\/p>\n
\u00abGrigory Grigorieva?\u00bb<\/p>\n
Her husband looked at her in surprise.<\/p>\n
\u00abWasn\u2019t your last name Grigorieva?\u00bb<\/p>\n
Zhanna turned to him.<\/p>\n
\u00abCoincidence. As always, you don\u2019t get it. And you picked the wrong restaurant. Everything is wrong\u2026\u00bb<\/p>\n
She looked around and pointed at something.<\/p>\n
\u00abThese burgundy curtains are awful.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Her husband widened his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u00abHow could I know you choose restaurants by the curtains? And why are burgundy bad if you have the same ones in your bedroom?\u00bb<\/p>\n
Zhanna angrily pushed the chair back and sat with her back to the stage.<\/p>\n
\u00abMy God, what a husband I have! All husbands are normal, and mine only ruins holidays.\u00bb<\/p>\n
The room went silent. Almost immediately, a young female voice began to sing a sad melody. Zhanna crumpled a napkin and threw it on the table.<\/p>\n
\u00abWell, what now? Are we going to spend the whole evening listening to this singer?\u00bb<\/p>\n
Her husband sighed and stood up.<\/p>\n
\u00abGirls, I\u2019m sorry. I\u2019ll come back later to drive you home.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Zhanna watched him leave with a bewildered look and sighed heavily.<\/p>\n
\u00abNow I\u2019ll have to sit like a statue. Not turning, not dancing\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
You will become the brightest star, the most talented of all. They will surely notice you, and your name will appear on all the posters.\u00bb Sophia cried,… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":24876,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24875","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n