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<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cYou will become the brightest star, the most talented of them all. You will be noticed, and your name will appear on every poster.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sofia cried, burying her face in the blanket covering her father. His hand, weak but still warm, stroked her hair.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t cry, my girl, don\u2019t. You can\u2019t fool fate. Listen to me, please,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n
Sofia lifted her tear-streaked face. Her father spoke in a barely audible voice, as though each word was a struggle:<\/p>\n
\u201cJust don\u2019t interrupt. I have no strength left\u2026 There used to be two of us \u2014 Mikhail and I, Grigory. We were inseparable friends, we even swore by blood that our friendship would last forever. And then your mother came along. We both fell in love with her. You see, when love comes between people, friendship often takes a back seat. Your mother chose me, and Mikhail couldn\u2019t come to terms with it.<\/p>\n
But he\u2019s a wonderful person. If things get really hard for you, you can turn to him. He won\u2019t abandon you. He now owns the \u2018Breeze\u2019 restaurant. Remember this, Sofia. One day, it might save you. There\u2019s more, but if he wants, he\u2019ll tell you himself\u2026<\/p>\n
Remember: I love you with all my heart, I believe in you, and I know you\u2019ll manage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sofia hugged her father tightly, and suddenly his body tensed, then went limp.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad! Dad!\u201d Her scream echoed through the room.<\/p>\n
They pulled her away from the bed. The doctors were running around frantically, but Sofia watched the scene as if from a distance. One thought kept spinning in her mind: \u201cI am alone. I am completely alone in this world.\u201d<\/p>\n
The next day, after the wake, when the guests had left, the stepmother gave Sofia a cold look:<\/p>\n
\u201cTomorrow, go find a job. I\u2019m not going to feed you.\u201d
\n\u201cBut I\u2019m studying\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
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\n\u201cStudying, huh!\u201d the stepmother mocked. \u201cYou won\u2019t get full on songs. If you don\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 jumped up, her eyes flashing:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? Your home? Ha! This is my home. I\u2019m your father\u2019s lawful wife. So shut up. And know this: I\u2019m being nice right now. But I can be different.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sofia ran out of the room, slamming the door behind her. She cried all night, holding a photo 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 Sofia to sing. Since childhood, she had won competitions. Her teachers said it was hard to break through, but even if she didn\u2019t, her voice would always feed her.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust imagine: anyone who hears your name \u2014 Sofia Grigoryeva \u2014 will never forget it,\u201d they told her.<\/p>\n
She smiled. Yes, her father had tried. She wasn\u2019t just Grigoryeva, she was also Grigoryevna.<\/p>\n
In the morning, Sofia got ready and went to class. She tried to be quiet so as not to wake the stepmother. She would study. No matter what. Her father had wanted that.<\/p>\n
When she returned, she saw her stepmother on the porch. Sofia slowed down, hoping she would leave, but the stepmother stood there, not taking her eyes off Sofia.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, did you find a job?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was at school.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sofia made an effort to walk past, but the stepmother blocked her path.
\n\u201cSchool, huh? You want to be a singer?\u201d She put her hands on her hips. \u201cWhat kind of singer are you? Your voice sounds like rusty hinges, you\u2019re not smart enough. With your looks, you\u2019ll be washing floors, not climbing on 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 subway, scare passersby. Maybe they\u2019ll give you something.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sofia looked at the suitcase with wide eyes, but the stepmother went into the house and slammed the door. Sofia heard the locks click. She grabbed her things and ran out of the yard.<\/p>\n
\u201cGod, please, let no one see this. Let dad have peace where he is now!\u201d<\/p>\n
Sofia walked down the street, dragging the suitcase. There were no more tears, no more thoughts. She had no relatives. Her father and mother had both been orphans. She didn\u2019t know what to do.<\/p>\n
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\nIt was getting dark outside. She stopped. In front of her was the \u201cBreeze\u201d 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 Yurievich?\u00bb
\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\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
Sophia couldn\u2019t hold back her tears. Mikhail 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
\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
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\nSophia 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
Some 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
\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
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\nMikhail 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
\nShe 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":"
\u201cYou will become the brightest star, the most talented of them all. You will be noticed, and your name will appear on every poster.\u201d Sofia cried, burying… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":25890,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n