If you participate in life, you don’t see it clearly: you suffer from it too much or enjoy it too much. The artist, to my way of thinking, is a monstrosity, something outside nature. All the misfortunes Providence inflicts on him come from his stubborness in denying that maxim.

From Sheina's diary... (51)

The Moment of Truth... (ninth month, third week, second day)

"Fate is ironic. I've said it many times and will keep repeating it. And people around me keep trying to convince me that I have control over my future and present. In moments like these, sitting in a tree for several hours, nervously looking around for Karik or my companions, I think it's nonsense. Fate has played a trick on me. Not for the first time and not for the last. And I'm starting to get really fed up with it!

This time I didn't have to beg the tree to let me climb it. I sat there, still listening. But the forest remained silent and unmoving. Once again I remembered the rule: when you realize you're lost, stay there. I stayed and waited. The next hours passed, and I simply became hungry and thirsty. Sitting almost motionless in a tree isn't pleasant either, in the long run. To tell the truth, my limbs simply started to ache. The feeling It felt like a swarm of ants were swarming over my feet. I jumped down from the tree, still looking around, and slowly moved forward. I knew where the nearest spring was. I could draw a map of the surrounding pools. I also knew that the humidity in the air had increased, and the gathering clouds only confirmed my premonitions. Rain was approaching. Rain that would erase all traces of anyone. In any case, I decided to find something to eat. What I had managed to take from the campsite was inedible. A bow, arrows, and... a map. I don't even know how it ended up in my hand. I stared at it, sitting in a tree, unable to read it. It had a few distinctive markings on it, like hills or distinctive-looking trees, but the map was wrong. I couldn't follow it. Besides, I didn't know how. It looked completely different from the maps people drew.

When I reached the spring, I started wondering what to do next. I remembered that a large river flowed near the Stronghold. A stream. I would have to find it. And quickly. When the downpour begins, my water-sensing abilities will be unreliable until the ground dries. Unfortunately, there was no stream nearby. So I set off. I was almost convinced the elves would manage, would find their way back. On the other hand, I hoped they would find me sooner. Perhaps we would meet on the way back, once I found that stream.

The forest was quiet and peaceful. You could say: the calm before the storm. Literally and figuratively. Clouds completely obscured the sky. With each passing minute, they grew darker. At that moment, I was no longer thinking about finding a stream, but rather about finding a safe haven from the downpour.

Actually, why was I panicking so much? What could have happened to me? For months, I wandered through various forests, facing various dangers, and I always managed. Ever since my Guardians "took care of me," I began to rely too much on others. I almost panicked if no one was around. I'd gotten lazy! I managed back then, when I was running away from them, and I can manage now, especially since I know more and can do more. It's just how it is: when we feel we can rely on someone, we become lazy, we start to think we can't handle anything on our own. But that's not true. I can't spend my whole life thinking someone will always be by my side, watching my back. Whatever will be, will be! If I have to die in this forest today, it will be. If I have to fight alone, I will. And I will win. I have a bow, I have arrows. I might catch something after the rain, I'll definitely try. Just like in the past. I'll manage.

Suddenly, an incredible exhaustion descended upon me. The effects of the Leganne were wearing off. I didn't have even half a leaf with me. Within minutes, I began to feel dizzy. My legs buckled under my weight. My strength began to rapidly decline. I stood under the nearest tree and slumped to the ground. I closed my eyes. A strange feeling. I couldn't even move my arm. True, for the past few days, I'd been functioning well, without sleep, thanks only to this herb. The body needs rest. Sleep. And now it demanded it abruptly. I'm taking it.

Darkness fell.

I don't know if it was a dream or if I'd lost consciousness. Nor do I know how long I'd been lying half-awake under that tree. The rain woke me. In fact, I was almost completely soaked. In the pouring rain, on unsteady legs, I searched for some shelter. I found it. Several large, solitary boulders, piled one on top of the other, had formed what could be called a cave. There was little room inside; I barely fit, but at least it was completely dry. I hoped the rain would end soon and the sun would come out. I was shivering from the cold. I could forget about a fire. Even if I somehow managed to light a fire, anything suitable for fuel would be wet. And I didn't even have anything to light the fire with. Admittedly, I'd faced similar problems before, but I always managed to find a suitable hiding place long before the rain. I smiled wryly to myself. Even if I caught a cold and got sick, I wouldn't die from it.

I think I'd fallen asleep. The constant patter of the rain seemed to be lulling me to sleep. A noise that rose above the sound woke me. I decided to look out and check.

Karik. He was standing right in front of me. He was watching intently, calmly. I held my breath.

What now?

"Run... run... Run!"

I threw myself forward, veering sharply to the side. I pushed against the trees with my hands. Everything was a blur, a constant stream of rain everywhere. My feet slid through the mud. What chance did I have of escaping this creature? Small... And what chance did I have of escaping three like this?

Two railways rose before me as if from nowhere. Or perhaps they were already standing there, perhaps waiting for their colleague to chase their prey into a dead end.

Time seemed to have stopped, frozen in place. Only the raindrops continued to fall at their usual pace. And only a faint rustle, fading with each passing moment. Pain. Suddenly, I fell to the ground. Something was tugging at my leg, dragging me along the ground. With my other foot, I kicked the source of the pain with all my might. It worked. The pain subsided. I saw nothing but raindrops and mud. I knew a new attack could come at any moment. Three of them could attack at once. My thoughts formed a chaotic image. When an ordinary body should be dead, I will witness my own death, torn to pieces by enormous teeth, crushing bones with a single snap. Devoured alive until my head is severed from my body. This isn't how it should be. This isn't how it should end! Where are my Guardians when I truly need them? They're gone, because it's always been this way, that I'm left to my own devices. All this care is just an illusion. I don't know why they try to keep me convinced I can rely on them when, in the first truly serious situation, I'm alone. Why has everything turned out this way? Why am I here? Why couldn't I die with my parents, why did they have to die? Why is no one here? Why has no one ever been able to answer this question? Why has no one ever even tried?

Why is everything becoming increasingly blurry? Fog? Cold. Darkness. Silence. I can't breathe, I can't catch my breath. It's cold, terribly cold here. Where am I? Have I lost consciousness? What happened?

I'm standing in the middle of an icy field. There's no rain—snow is falling from the sky. There's no water—everything is covered in ice. There are no trees—snow sculptures are rising from the ground. There are no Kariks. Two ice statues stand before me. As if caught in time at the moment of attack. Actually, they're not standing, but lying, as if something had knocked them over earlier. A few steps away, a third creature, what's left of it. The ice there has turned a dark red. Its head, separated from its body, still grinned menacingly at me. What happened here? I'm clutching something in my hand, something resembling a long spike of ice, sharpened on one end like a sword. It's covered in blood. My hands too. My clothes. Everything.

What happened here? What did I do…?

A sudden pain stabbed me in the lungs. What I held in my hand suddenly turned to mist and vanished. The pain intensified, making it impossible to stand. It quickly took over every inch of my body. It wouldn't let go. There was nothing but pain. And darkness."

Pet

She'd once been given a pet.

Quite simply. He'd come over one day and, laughing (his laughter held all the sun and all the rain), had taken her hand. When he let go, she was already holding the little animal, tiny, very pleasant to the touch, incredibly fragile and delicate.

The animal was clearly incredibly comfortable in the warm comfort of her soft hand. Safe and sound. After a while, however, it allowed itself to wander a bit timidly across her body. It climbed up her arm to her cheek, clinging carefully to her skin with its tiny paws and delicate claws. It was very careful, God forbid, not to offend her, not to stand too firmly, not to disturb her, not to hurt her.

From her cheek, it moved to the corner of her mouth, comfortable and pleasant. It slipped into her mouth, where it carefully traced her teeth, examining their shape and sharpness with a faint smile.

When it finished examining her face, it would hide among her hair, wandering between the strands, gently moving them. It slid back down her hair to her neck, where it fell asleep, nestled in the small dimple just above her collarbone.

She sometimes forgot the animal's presence. Besides, it wasn't intrusive at all, perfectly sensing when to remind her. So that she would forget everything, good and evil, heaven and hell. There was only a moment – ​​carpe diem – she, the animal, the sun and the rain.

They were getting used to each other. Slowly. She learned not to jerk her hair back or shake her head, not to shake the animal under any circumstances, not to throw it off her, not to let it disappear.

But it didn't want to disappear at all. On the contrary, it grew more and more daring. It discovered the warm curve of her breasts, where it delighted in wandering – initially shy and clumsy, then quickly finished, startled by this new territory, and fled to the familiar comfort of her neck. Only after a while did she allow herself to stay there longer, even to fall asleep, curled up in a ball.

She was initially a little frightened, but she quickly realized she didn't want the animal to stop.

Soon after, the animal felt the change, but it was a good change, bringing it complete peace and a sense of security. From then on, it roamed freely over her body, without hesitation. It felt with its entire being that she wanted it, that she had nothing against it, and was very happy to have the animal with her.

And then it realized that something extraordinary was happening, something about which it was necessary to be more gentle than ever before. It smiled faintly and, purring softly, settled into that tiny dimple that was still its favorite place. Nowhere did it feel so good, so safe, as it did there.

And when it finally had to share Her, when Her little Copy appeared, it wasn't jealous at all. Sometimes, when it felt it could leave Her for a moment, just a moment, it would run to that Copy and snuggle into her hand, nuzzle her nose with its tail, gently tickle her feet with its claws. And then it would return to Her, because only with Her could it feel truly calm and safe.

After a while, the patter of Copy's feet could be heard throughout the house, along with her voice, sometimes quite soft, sometimes loud and shrill. And although the animal didn't like noise, this particular noise didn't bother it; it was kind and homely in its own way. And She followed Copy, always with that faint smile on her face and the dimple in her neck where the animal hid, occasionally gently touched by Her fingers.

And although Copy quickly disappeared with her own pet, it didn't feel nervous. Because it had Her all the time, and it also had, as always, sunshine and rain. And that was enough. Hiding in the corner of her mouth when she smiled and curling up in her hand as she went about her daily chores was enough.

And it went on.

But the little animal always felt everything before she did. And before she sensed that something was wrong. Because although the sun was still shining and the rain was still falling, the sun wasn't as warm anymore, and the rain wasn't as wet.

And when they disappeared completely, the little animal felt the dimple in her neck disappear as well.

So one day, instead of sliding down her hair to her neck, she slid to the floor.

And walked away, tapping inaudibly with her tiny claws.

Cheesy Steak Penne Pasta with Broccoli & Peppers🧀🔥The ultimate easy family dinner everyone will crave!

📝 Ingredients :

For the Steak:

1 lb sirloin steak, cut into bite-size pieces

2 tbsp olive oil

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp garlic powder

Salt and black pepper to taste

Fresh parsley, chopped

For the Pasta:

12 oz penne pasta

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 cup broccoli florets

2 tbsp butter

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup mozzarella cheese

½ cup Parmesan cheese

½ tsp Italian seasoning

🍽️ How to Make It :

1️⃣ Season the Steak:

Toss steak pieces with olive oil, paprika, garlic powder,

salt, and pepper. This easy dinner idea, best steak pasta,

quick family meal starts with huge flavor.

2️⃣ Cook the Pasta:

Boil penne according to package directions until tender.

This easy comfort meal, weeknight favorite, family

dinner winner keeps things simple.

3️⃣ Sear the Steak & Vegetables:

Cook steak in a hot skillet, then add broccoli and bell

peppers until slightly tender. This restaurant-style dinner,

homemade comfort food, easy dinner win builds

amazing flavor.

4️⃣ Make the Creamy Cheese Sauce:

Add butter, garlic, cream, mozzarella, Parmesan, and

seasonings, stirring until smooth and creamy. This best

cheesy pasta, comfort food favorite, crowd-pleasing

meal creates the magic.

5️⃣ Combine & Serve:

Toss pasta into the sauce, top with steak and melted

cheese exactly like the photo for an ultimate comfort

meal, easy family dinner, restaurant-style favorite

Go to her now.. 1/3

She put on her long white boots, denim capris, a beige turtleneck, and a white jacket. She left it unbuttoned and delicately parted her hair around the rolled-up fabric. She glanced at the refrigerator and grabbed her silver car keys. When her hands rested on the steering wheel, she took a deep breath and wanted to get out. She didn't feel like driving where everyone was in such a hurry today.

She drove around the cemetery for a long time, looking for a free spot, which she found only when a young policeman caught her eye. He waved a red lollipop practically in her face and told her to roll down the window.

"Are you lost?" he asked, adjusting his cap and leaning against her car door.

"No," the girl replied quietly, not taking her eyes off the road.

"May I ask why you're driving in circles?"

"I'm looking for a suitable spot. I guess there's nothing strange about that." She smiled artificially, glancing at the policeman.

"Well, it's not like there's anything... Except you've been driving this way for about the sixth or seventh time," the officer said, straightening up.

"Seriously?" the girl bit her lip and clenched her hands on the steering wheel. "Does it bother you?" she asked, leaning out the car window.

"Well..." the officer hesitated. "Looking at it from some perspective, it's blocking your traffic," he said, rolling his eyes.

"I apologize profusely... Officer. I'm already finding a suitable spot..." the girl sighed and rolled up the window. She drove off with a gentle squeal of tires and parked in the first available space. When she got out of the car and slammed the door, she felt the officer's eyes on her, but she didn't turn around. She walked slowly toward the cemetery, dodging people with candles on the street. She stopped in front of the enormous entrance gate. Old, but still possessed something that, instead of attracting, repelled.

"Why are you just standing there?!" an old woman practically screamed, nudging her waist.

"Can't I?" the girl asked, her eyes widening, and without waiting for the old woman's answer, she moved forward.

A cemetery by day wasn't the same as at night. Full of candles, full of people, full of leaves, full of graves... Only the most important thing was missing...

When she sat down next to the actual grave, she noticed she'd forgotten to grab the candles from the car.

"Oh well... After all, that's not the most important thing..." she sighed, sinking onto the bench and burying her face in her hands. She only picked her up when she heard some quiet shuffling next to her. Her cousin stood before her. A tall brunette with curly hair, wearing a black miniskirt, holey tights, a short jacket with some fluff on the hood, and a ton of makeup.

"Hi!" she squealed happily, hugging her so tightly that the girl couldn't breathe for a moment.

-Hi..- she choked out.

"Are you alone?" the cousin asked, surprised, taking off her purse and placing it on the grave.

"As you can see," the girl said firmly, wiping away the tears that had already rolled down her cheek.

"I came with Michałek, but he disappeared..." the cousin sighed, sitting down next to her.

"Michałek? From what I remember, your last love was named Tomek." the girl grimaced, looking at her cousin with distaste.

"Tomek? What Tomek?" the girl pondered. "And... Jakubowski?" she asked cheerfully.

"Possibly...

" "Well, he's long gone. After him, there was Łukasz, but he left for Denmark, and Marcin, but... And you know, I don't even know what happened to him..." the girl hesitated, putting a finger to her face as a sign of thoughtfulness.

"Terrible..." the girl sighed and got up from the green bench.

"And where are you?" the cousin asked, surprised.

"Well... I've already prayed. It's time for me to go. Bye..." the girl said quickly, kissing her cousin gently on the cheek goodbye, and leaving her alone by the tomb. She didn't stand there long, because a moment later, a short, brown-haired man with glasses caught up with her—in short, she'd won her new grave. The girl lowered her gaze and counted the stones she'd managed to step on on the way to the next grave. There, she knew she wouldn't see any of her family again. It was her favorite place that day. No one ever stood there, sat on the brown bench, or lit candles. She didn't even know who was buried there, because the nameplate was smudged. But whoever was there could understand her. And they both sat there in silence.

She glanced at the people passing by. The short woman with red hair was wearing what seemed like the best coat she could find. Her eyes and lips were appropriately accentuated, some beige pants, and black boots she'd just bought. She was clutching the hand of a man who lacked nothing.

Go to her now.. 2/3

And only then did it dawn on her.

And only then did she understand why her cousin was dressed the way she was.

Because today was a fashion show.

Everyone in the house was taking their best clothes out of the closet, applying their finest cosmetics, and some looked as if they'd just left the hairdresser.

The cemetery was filled with the scent of all sorts of perfumes, both women's and men's.

And only now did she understand why she felt so uncomfortable here.

"What are you looking at?" a girl asked, sitting down next to her.

"Me?" Gośka asked, surprised, eyeing the blonde. The girl looked terribly pale. She was wearing some old-fashioned jeans and a summer shirt with a flower pattern. "Aren't you cold?"

"Cold?" the blonde asked, tugging at her shirt. "I don't feel anything..." she said, her gaze suspended in midair. Gośka ignored the girl's clothing and got up from the bench. "Where are you going?" the blonde asked, standing up after her. She said it as if she was afraid the girl would run away.

"I don't know. Maybe home..." Małgosia sighed.

"Stay with me a little longer..." the blonde asked, grabbing the sleeve of her white jacket with her cold hand.

"Why?" Gośka asked, surprised, sitting back down.

"Oh, by the way." the girl grimaced. "How old are you?"

"As old as I look," the girl smiled. "Nineteen..." she added after a moment, seeing the confused expression on the blonde's face. "And you?"

"Perfect," the blonde murmured. "Come on. I have to introduce you to someone..." the girl smiled mysteriously and took Gośka's warm hand in her cold hand. Gośka didn't even protest. She liked this new acquaintance with the slightly scatterbrained girl. She liked the idea of ​​meeting someone in a place like this. In a place where everyone would say that everything here is dying... And she, that blonde, will bring about the birth of something. The girl let Gośka go somewhere between the trees. She had to start running to keep track of her. The blonde only stopped at a small tomb strewn with roses.

"And...?" Gośka asked in surprise when the blonde wordlessly sat down next to the tomb.

"What? Wait a minute..." A mysterious smile appeared on the girl's face again.

"Whose grave is this?" Gośka asked, removing a few maple leaves.

"I'm Magda," the blonde replied, helping her shake off the dried leaves. "

Nice to meet you, Gośka," the girl said, turning to her and extending her hand.

"Kamil," a gentle male voice sounded. The girl seemed to have woken up from a dream. She stood still, holding a few maple leaves in her hand, silent.

"I... I'm looking for Magda..." she stammered after a moment.

-Are you kidding me? - the boy asked in surprise, putting the candles on the bench.

"Yes. I mean, no..." Gośka was lost in her words. "What are you doing here?

" "Me?" Kamil smiled and sat down on a plastic bench. "I came to visit Magda." He smiled gently, lighting a candle.

"But..." Gośka hesitated, looking at the tombstone. Magdalena Nowicka. Age 17. Born February 10, 1987, died June 16, 2004. She expanded the circle of Angels.

Go to her now.. 3/3

"It's settled..." Magda said, shrugging off her old jeans and tight floral blouse.

"What's settled?" Black asked, taking a bite of her sandwich.

"Well... That girl... What was her name..." Magda hesitated, stretching her beige wings. "Gośka!" she exclaimed happily.

"What's wrong with her?" Black perked up, placing the sandwich on a blue plate.

"Everything's fine." Magda smiled, patting the Angel of Death on the shoulders.

"So what's your problem?!" Black exclaimed angrily, slamming his fist on the table.

"Easy..." Magda sighed. "I connected her with Kamil."

"And just to tell me this, you interrupt my dinner?" Black fumed, taking the sandwich back in his hand.

"I thought you'd be happy about that..." the girl crouched, wrapping her beige wings around herself. "You know what that means..."

"I don't know." He bit a piece of bread.

"Well, that you'll get rid of me," the girl rejoiced. "I had a mission to fulfill. And I fulfilled it." She proudly pressed her breasts against her chest. "By the way, I thought Angels didn't need to eat," she said in a gentle voice and sat down on the table. "None

of your business." Black grimaced.

"Why are you so rude to me?" Magda asked, biting into a red apple. "

Get your wings out of my face and get off the table. Didn't they teach you any manners back on Earth?" Black got angry and threw the girl off.

"Are you two arguing again?" White asked, entering the room.

"It's not my fault he doesn't like me," Magda grumbled, flapping her wings.

"Do you still have those black spots on your wings?" White asked worriedly. "Haven't you completed your mission yet?"

"I have..." the girl hesitated. "I did everything just as Hope told me." Magda smiled. "Maybe I should go ask her when he disappeared?" the girl asked, rising from the floor.

"Her answer will probably be clear..." the Angel of Life sighed.

"What?"

"You didn't complete your mission," Black said, and disappeared.

"I don't like it when she does something like that to me..." Magda said angrily, sitting in the Angel of Death's place.

"What?" White asked in surprise.

"Oh, his disappearing like that." She sighed. "I know he's coming for someone again..." A shiver ran through the girl.

"That's his mission..." Hope said, anticipating the Angel of Life's explanation.

"Well, it is..."

"Just like yours was to unite two people. Except you didn't anticipate one small element..." Hope lowered her voice.

"One element?" Magda asked in surprise.

"The grave over which Gośka was sitting wasn't her boyfriend's grave. A young soldier from World War II rests there," Nadzieja sighed.

"But... The Angel of Death said it clearly," the girl said, startled.

"Black has a tendency to lie often. You simply did it for Destiny, that's all."