Lepanto

CHAPTER ONE WHY BOYS ARE CAREFUL? Who is this Deryl Portos? Let's start with the fact that she's a first-year high school student. She has many friends, good classmates, and is a very nice person, and no one can resist her. What is she like? Slim, slight, of average height, with dark blonde hair that shimmers with gold and brown eyes. She always smiles, knows how to put on a good face when she's playing badly, and is decisive and confident. She likes helping the weak for the sake of it, never expecting anything in return. Looking at her, you might think she's just a small, defenseless girl, but appearances are very deceptive in this case. She could knock a man twice her weight to the ground. She has a lot of strength, and she's been practicing taekwondo for a year. She used to ignore the suffering of others. She didn't react to a weaker friend calling for help, beaten by a stronger one. She didn't react, or she was simply afraid. But now, there will never be a time when she won't defend the weaker. No threats can stop her from helping the injured. What's more interesting, sometimes she wishes someone would attack her. Then she could show others that she's always prepared for anything. So far, no one has tried to attack her, so it still remains a wild dream. Deri values ​​honesty and sincerity. She hates deception, Vaseline, and artificial friendships. In middle school, she struggled with her feelings and couldn't concentrate on her studies. But now she keeps boys at a distance. Of course, she has fun with them at parties and talks normally, but she carefully avoids the topic of closer friendship and love. Many more interesting guys, some less interesting, surround her, but none of them have a chance of winning her heart. Why are boys wary of her? Deryl has moments of rage, lashing out at people around her. She's unforgiving, which is one of her flaws, but it shapes her personality and tells boys to be careful with their words and actions. She only treats the opposite sex, not taking girls and their sarcastic remarks seriously. One day, during a long break, just before a geography test, something happened that changed everyone's attitude towards Deri. Most of the class was sitting outside, studying in a pleasant atmosphere of banter. Not far from them stood two short, skinny boys. They glanced around uncertainly. No one in the class paid any attention to the approaching danger. Bysio, the leader of the school gang, was heading towards the two frightened high school students. He extracted money from such naive people, used it for his own purposes, and ignored anyone. Warnings from teachers, principals, and even the police were of no avail. He always managed to turn the tables. No one in the entire school would try to oppose him. Everyone knew he hung out with shady people, always carried a knife, and wouldn't hesitate to use it. No one ever tried to stop him. The entire high school was simply terrified of him. Now, as he stood over these two poor souls, no one, not a single "tough guy" in the class, dared to even look at him. Julia was just starting to say something about the school's quirks, but Deryl wasn't listening. She was staring at Bysio. "Don't you think these teachers are any different? Can't you ask a question because they'll just yell at you? " "Yes, and when I wrote the topic on the board, Zocha started nagging me because I wrote "no" instead of "m"!" Fred said indignantly. Zocha was one of the older teachers at the high school. "Don't you think these two boys could use some help? Why doesn't one of you step up and defend your friends?" Deri finally asked. " We're too weak... We couldn't handle him. Besides, Bysio wouldn't forgive us..." Miki began fearfully. "Bryan, you claim you're the strongest? So why are you silent now? " "Bysio doesn't play fair, he'd stab me... " "Just explain yourself. You're just cowards." Deryl stood up and moved toward Bysio. He was nudging one of the boys and swearing terribly as he did so. "Hey, Bysio!" she began. "Why do you bother with the weaker ones, huh? " The fat lump of stupidity turned slightly. "Who wants to talk to me? " "Me." Deri stood in front of him, only now realizing she was five times lighter and a head and a half shorter than her attacker. Despite this, she looked at him bravely. "You know that hitting the weaker ones shows your cowardice?" "Wait, little one. Do I understand correctly that you called me a coward? " "Not otherwise." "And you know that if you were some little boy, you'd get punched in the guts and maybe not even survive? " "I know. " "And you know what I'm going to do now? " "I know what you're going to do in a moment. You'll leave these two and run home crying. Unless this goes well, you'll end up at the police station. " "Ha! Ha!" Ha! -Shut your mouth, it stinks. Bysio frowned. He tried to push Deryl back, but was surprised when she didn't even flinch. She braced herself with her foot and, using a similar amount of force to counter the attack, somehow managed to maintain her balance. Then Bysiorek swung his fist at the girl. However, he did it so sluggishly that she easily dodged the blow. She ducked, ducking, and before the Mutant could realize it, she had jumped with all her weight onto his stomach. Baryła was sprawled on the sidewalk. "Get up, fat guy. " Deri waited for the fat guy to recover, then let him tire himself out a bit. He waved his arms and lifted his legs awkwardly, but somehow never hit her opponent. After a moment, they both realized a large crowd of gawkers had gathered around them. As if that weren't enough, teachers stood among the audience, afraid to get closer and prevent a further brawl. "What's wrong, Bysio?" Don't tell me I'm bigger than you!" Deri allowed herself a small insult, backing away from the fat man. She stopped and allowed the attacker to get a little closer. Bysio swung his fist again. Again he missed. But now Deryl caught his arm and twisted it so effortlessly it seemed laughable. When the police arrived at the school, Bysio lay on the ground, not even considering getting up. Miss Portos became the hero of the day. All the classes rejoiced—the parallel ones and the older ones. The invincible Bysio disappeared, and everyone could move freely around the school. "Are you too weak?" she looked at her classmates. They were deeply embarrassed. After a short while, Bysio returned to the school hallways, but he had become humble and no longer harmed anyone. He had become such a sweet, big friend, even Deri's friend. The incident with Byś changed everyone's attitude towards Portosówna. No one dared mock her, insult her, or ignore her warnings; even in jest, everyone was very cautious. Deri is definitely not one to be fooled. She's also decisive and knows what she wants. She'll need it soon... HOW DOES SHE DO IT? Before the incident with Byś, Deryl demonstrated her stubbornness and self-confidence in other ways. Namely, the baptisms of first-graders. The two older classes, on the very first day of school, threatened the youngsters that they would baptize them ruthlessly, everyone regardless of height, IQ, or gender. Baptisms are indeed a small place. They were planned very carefully, sometimes en masse, but usually individually. They were always kept secret from teachers. Those who had undergone such baptisms were afraid to reveal who was behind this "baptismal" organization. Everyone is afraid again. Deryl decided to take action when a group of classmates were pelted with eggs and flour by older students. " That's a bit much. Someone has to finally stand up to them. I can't believe there are only cowards among us," she said, getting angry when some boys smeared Julia's jacket. "Of course! I'm going to stand up to them right now. Why? They'll baptize us anyway. And after an incident like this, they'll beat us even more," Bryan snorted. "Damn you idiots!" Deri thought, falling silent. She was scheduled to be baptized that same day. She was walking calmly to her classroom when she suddenly heard, "Hey, little one! " Four piledrivers blocked the passageway. One was holding a pair of hairdressing scissors. Deryl ignored them. She tried to walk between them. The tallest of them grabbed her hand. "What?" she snapped. "We're talking to you. " "I'm not deaf." "So why aren't you reacting?" "I don't talk to idiots. " The guy with the scissors stepped closer. "Do you know what this is?" he asked, brandishing the scissors. "I know. Do you want to be a hairdresser? That hair salon on Długa Street is hiring an apprentice. You can try your luck." At that moment, the bell for class rang. "Sorry, I won't be your first client. I have a history test now. " She spoke quickly and continuously, which somewhat surprised the students and slowed their processors as they stood stunned and tried to understand what she was saying. Taking advantage of a moment of inattention, she yanked her hand away and went to the classroom. "I saved my hair... and my appearance, as it were. But what next?" And then things got a little more interesting. The same guys were following her on her way home. The next day, after class, they were waiting for her in front of the house where she lived. They prevented her from entering the yard. "You're a clever ass," the one with the scissors said. "Thanks. And what did they accept you for? " "No. They've already found someone. But just so you don't worry, you won't miss the baptism. " "You didn't have to dodge the scissors. You would have already done it. And now we have to move on to a more drastic form of baptism." The tallest of the group smiled. "What will they come up with?" " Take off your clothes. " "Please? " "Let's have some fun." The third guy cackled. "Okay." "You felt like messing with Deryl... and you'll remember me, you bastards... you'll remember." "Which one first?" The guys were a bit surprised, but the barber was the first to move. As soon as he reached her, he punched her in the stomach and rolled across the sidewalk. This outraged the others. They decided to attack her and beat her up. Nothing came of it, as they moved at intervals. Deri dealt with such individual ones without much problem with a strong blow to the stomach (or a little lower - of course by mistake...) and pushing her towards the street. The piledrivers had no desire to continue their fun. They fled as quickly as possible, and that was all there was to it. The next day, Deryl met a hairdresser. "If it doesn't happen again, I'll forgive you and won't tell anyone, but let someone touch me..." Deri's would-be baptizers spread the word throughout the second and third grades that it was best not to bother her, and from that moment on, members of the baptismal organization stayed out of her way. Her classmates were still intimidated by their older peers and wouldn't budge from their offices. Only when Deri defended them one day did they believe in themselves and gradually moved around the school building in smaller and smaller groups, until they finally became confident enough to roam the hallways alone. CHAPTER TWO THE MYSTERIOUS MOTORCYCLIST Deri likes fast motorcycles. She likes watching them. She collects posters, stickers, etc. But so far, she hasn't expressed any interest in riding the vehicle. For some time now, she'd seen a rather handsome red motorcycle, with an equally handsome rider. She'd usually seen it while walking her dog. It seemed he reciprocated Deri's interest in him, because whenever he saw her walking, he'd drive past her several times, rearing up each time. As for the motorcycle itself, it was exactly the kind of motorcycle Deryl likes best. It had a built-in engine and a shiny red paint job (a color tolerated by Miss Portos only on motorcycles and cars). And the rider? At first, he was very mysterious. He always wore a red helmet with a black visor. He made sure she didn't see him without it. But she did. It was one beautiful afternoon. He was going a bit too fast, trying to show off, and didn't notice the police standing on the side of the road. He got a ticket. And he had to take off his helmet for the moment. Deri took advantage of this and studied him closely. His hair was slightly curly, a very light blond, almost platinum, perfectly matching the white suit he most often wore. She was too far away to see the color of his eyes, but the features of his face were etched deep in her heart. Now began the dramatic search for that face. Deryl had fallen in love. With a boy she didn't know, didn't know his name, only knew his motorcycle license plate, and had only seen his face once. It was funny, but true. The first signs of love appeared at school. A poor grade in a subject as simple (for Deri) as math. The school schedule was jumbled. Later, neglect of household chores appeared, along with salted apple pie and sweetened meat—new culinary recipes. Moreover, she saw a mysterious motorcyclist in every blond. She saw him for real once, but of course, she couldn't tell the difference between real and "I think." She saw him on her way to taekwondo practice. He followed her all the way to the training hall... AREK Deryl's dream of being a motorcyclist had unexpectedly come true. Suddenly and simply, without any bluntness or unnecessary laps, he approached her after one Tuesday training session. He smiled sincerely, cleared his throat, and asked, a little confused by Deri's bold look. "Hi, do you recognize me?" "Wait a minute... Is that you who rides that cool red motorcycle? " "So you do. I've been thinking for a long time how and when to start this conversation. I'd like to get to know you better, maybe become friends... " "Pinch me, I must be dreaming!" " Seriously? " "Yes. " " You know that if you're joking, then... " "So I might get hit? I'm not joking." He smiled even more pleasantly, extended his hand, and added, "Arek. " Deri didn't have to think long. She shook his outstretched hand and replied, "Deryl. You're not from here, are you? " "No. I've only been living here for five years with my mother. " "And before that? " "I lived in Poland. Hence my accent." "Do you prefer England to my homeland? " "I don't like the rain here. The people there are different, the politicians are different... But unemployment is higher, and my mother makes so much money here that I've gotten used to it, whether I want it or not. And now I don't regret staying here." "What do you do? " "I'm a part-time student, I work as a webmaster, you know who that is? " "Are you making a fool of me? I sometimes tinker with things like that. " "Well, you know what I mean. It takes a lot of time on the computer, but it's a good profit. And when I have a moment, I get on my Alien and relax. " "Alien?" "That's what I named my motorcycle. What do you do? Besides studying at high school?" "Computer, sometimes I read something, I help my father keep the cottage somewhat tidy, I meet with friends. I go for long walks with the dog, and that's my way of relaxing. " "What's your dog's name? " "Buffie." The old man is eleven years old now. "When he was romping around the meadow like that, I thought he was a puppy. " "Most people think so. He's doing well outside, but he gets sick more and more often." Chatting about this and that, they reached Deri's apartment. "Well, goodbye then," the girl sighed, looking quite boldly into her new friend's eyes. "Shall we meet tomorrow?" "If I find the time. SKS at six, school choir after seven classes, and in between, I have to make something to eat, take care of the dog, and do some studying. " "Do you have a tightly packed schedule for the whole week?" Arek groaned. "No. Wednesdays are the busiest, Tuesdays and Fridays are taekwondo training, Mondays and Thursdays are also my SKS classes, but only five classes. Saturdays are completely free, and Sundays are practically free too. " "So will there be a little time for me?" " I think so. See you tomorrow. " "Bye." Deri didn't tell her father about Arek. She knew he would forbid her from seeing him. Patrick tries to be a good father and wouldn't want anything to happen to his daughter. That's why Mr. Portos found out about Arek Lepański much later. JEALOUS BETWEEN BOTH GENDER Deri had met Arek more than once. She already knew quite a lot about him. One day, after the second period, when they were sitting as a class in front of the high school building as usual, they appeared in public as more than friends. Portosówna sat in the very center of attention. The boys had beefy eyes, the girls had Vaseline. Among the latter, only Deborah felt genuine friendship for Deryl. The history teacher was being called names for his incomprehensible way of assessing students' knowledge when a red motorcycle with two "drivers" pulled up to the school. Seeing her familiar Alien and the even more familiar motorcyclist, Deri smiled to herself and watched with satisfaction the reactions of her classmates. "Yo! What a macho!" sighed Julia. "If I had a motorcycle like that, all the chicks in town would be mine!" Bryan, the most enamored of Deri, went off with his comparisons. " I'd ride one of those..." gasped Fred quietly. " This is the first time I've seen that blond guy. He's adorable!" Marita remarked as he took off his helmet. " Is that other one Toledori's brother from the other?" Margaret blurted out her question. Dominik only nodded in agreement, but no one heard him. The elder Toledorie entered the school, and Arek stayed by his motorcycle. He looked around, and when he spotted the familiar face of Miss Portos, he waved to her with his beautiful, sincere smile. Deri smiled and winked. Her friends, on the other hand, began arguing among themselves about who he waved to. Lepański stood up and slowly walked toward his friend. At that moment, they all had jelly in their pants, hoping he was going to one of them. "Hey, honey. What are you doing after school today?" Portosówny asked. "I don't have any plans for today. Taekwondo practice is canceled. What?" she replied as if nothing had happened. " Then maybe I'll pick you up and we'll go somewhere, huh? " "I have a better idea. You can pick me up and we'll go somewhere. " "Okay. I thought you'd like to ride... " "Alien, not yet. My favorite mode of transportation is my legs." "And as for your legs, I don't mind. Do you have five classes? " "Niop. What are you doing here?" "I gave a ride to a friend. His brother got up and his parents were at work, so he had to show up." At that moment, the bell rang. Deryl stood up. "Sorry, but I have to go. " "What do you have now? " "A history test. " "Good luck. Just don't thank me. " "Thank you. I'm not superstitious." Even as she was walking out of the high school, she turned and waved. Since there was a test, the outburst of jealous texts from her friends occurred during the next break. "What a quiet town! She's playing single, and she's growing such a handsome guy! " "She didn't even introduce him to us! " "Where did she get such a guy? " "Deri... Why don't I know anything about this gorgeous tram driver?" Debi asked calmly, the only one not jealous at the moment. "Because he's just a friend." Still insignificant... - Deri lied a little. But she was glad that her dear friends felt jealous of something they would never have. The jealousy that arose among the three class admirers was indescribably greater. Arek with his motorcycle was, in their eyes, a terrible rival. CHAPTER THREE FIRST DATE Winter arrived. A nasty, cold rain was pouring down. This weather meant that studying, as long as you didn't fall asleep, went quite smoothly, but Arek couldn't go for walks with Deri. They met a little less often. They went to their families for the holidays. They only met on New Year's Eve. Deri threw a party at her cottage. The group was very small, just Deborah, Paul, and Arek. The fun was still great. It snowed in January and for two weeks it didn't disappear from the streets, trees, or lawns. The frost was intense, but overall it wasn't that noticeable. And it certainly didn't stop us from going for walks together. During one such afternoon stroll, Arek suggested to Deri that we take a trip to Poland together. "Me and you? " "Yes. I'll show you my hometown, we'll visit a few nice places, climb a small hill? " "I'd love to, but I don't know if my father will agree... " "He will. " "If he doesn't know who I'm going with, he'll never agree. " "I'll come to you tomorrow. You introduce me, and don't worry about the rest. Apparently, I have a gift for persuasion. " Arek began to talk about his homeland. After an hour and a half, they reached the Portos' house. It was almost dark. " Goodbye. See you tomorrow." Arek sighed and was about to leave when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Wait. I didn't say goodbye to you." Deryl didn't want to say goodbye, but it was time to go home. She kissed him. "I didn't expect such a goodbye." - the boy smiled. Deryl felt she truly loved him. INCOMPREHENSIBLE FEAR The next day, Arek came to Portosówna's house. Patrick, hearing his name, trembled from head to toe and acted strangely for the rest of his visit. When his daughter's friend left, he turned to her. "I don't like you seeing him at all." "Why? " "Because I don't like the way he looks. " "But Dad, why? " "He seems strange to me... You shouldn't see him. " Arek's mother reacted similarly. She was somehow uneasy. The next day, Arek arrived at the school, found Deryl, and told her what was happening. "My mother forbade me from seeing you. She didn't say why. Nothing. Just that I can't see you. " "That's suspicious. My father also said I shouldn't see you. " "And on top of that, they acted a bit strange when we introduced ourselves. " "Do you know what they might be up to?" "No." But I know I don't care about that rule. Deri, I can't live without you. "You have no idea how glad I am to hear that. Let's try to get something out of our folks. " "Okay." They tried for a week to find out, but neither she nor he got anywhere. "SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE." After a while of breaking her parents' rules, Deryl began to have doubts about Arek. It all started with Arek often hanging out with strange people, commonly known as dealers, thieves, or local skinheads. She'd seen him herself, Paul and Deborah had seen him. "What if he's some common junkie?" Debi groaned. "Not common. An ordinary guy like that wouldn't charm Deri," Paul commented in a somewhat jealous tone. " I just don't understand why he needs them. He's got money, he's got a motorcycle... " "He's got you..." Deliriously teased. "Oh, Deliriously, will you finally stop that?!" Deborah said impatiently. "I know you're trying to get your ass kicked, but we're friends. Just friends, Paul. You know that." All three friends fell into deep thought, as they always did when they started arguing. They didn't like it and tried to avoid arguments as much as possible. Miss Portos had secretly arranged to meet Arek at the sports hall for a basketball game. They talked about this and that, and it was quite fun and pleasant. Until the moment when four men entered the audience. Deri knew them only by sight, but she knew they were local thugs. "Will you forgive me if I leave you for a moment?" "I'll miss you," she sighed heavily. As soon as they disappeared through the door, she followed them. She crept slowly until she reached the hall's vestibule. There stood Arek and his companions. She was too far away to hear their words. But she saw Lepański showing them his weapon hidden in his breast pocket. She felt somehow strange. Without leaving any information for him, she slipped out of the hall. She fled home and was surprised to find herself shaking—simply afraid. Over the next few days, she tried to avoid Arek. CHAPTER FOUR THE END Right after winter break, Deryl's class went on a field trip to the geology museum. Deri went there only to avoid running into Lepański. There were about one hundred and fifty visitors and employees. No one expected that anything would happen in the museum so soon. Everyone was calm and focused on the exhibits and listening to the guides. And suddenly, the unbroken silence was broken by four shots. Masked people were entering from every possible exit. General chaos and commotion ensued. Panic gripped the visitors. After a moment, everyone was packed into the corners of the museum, leaving Deryl in the middle. She looked around helplessly at her fellow hostages and the several gun barrels aimed at her. Why hadn't she moved, stood to the side like everyone else? A premonition? She stood there stunned, not even moving an inch. Someone who seemed to be in charge of the group approached the girl. "Look how brave she is. She didn't even move. Let someone scare her. " "No!" protested one of the masked men. "What did you say, Lepanto?" the boss snorted. "Leave her alone." Deryl knew that voice well. As a result, Miss Portos was finally released. For three hours, they negotiated the ransom. In the end, the masked gang made a tidy sum and disappeared without harming anyone. When Arek, accompanied by Toledori, showed up at the school the next day, she ignored him when he started talking to Deri. "Do you have something to say to me?" she finally asked. "Please? " "Do you have something to say to me?" she repeated. "I don't know what you're talking about. " "I'm asking if you have something to say to me?" "I don't think so. " "Do you or don't you? " "No. " "Don't you? " "No. " "Then leave me alone," she hissed and headed for the school. "Please? " "You don't have anything to say to me, so get lost. " "But what's your point? " "What do I mean? Do you want to know? " "Yes. " "Lepanto. That's what I mean." She turned and entered the high school building, slamming the front door. Toledo immediately grabbed his side, where he kept the gun. "Are you crazy?!" Lepanto growled. "But?" Toledo stopped mid-sentence, catching his friend's gaze. A moment later, they drove off in the red Alien, and silence fell in front of the high school. THE TRUTH . Arek disappeared from Deryl's sight so effectively that she didn't see him for a moment for half a month. Lepanto had two reasons for hiding. We know the first. The second was the truth about why his mother forbade him from seeing Portos. He found out, but kept it to himself. Deryl knew nothing about it until Lidia Lepanska and her son arrived at the house of Patrick Portos and his daughter. Then everything came to light. "My husband and your mother..." Lidia began. "They had a serious affair." " They only broke up after my mother was pregnant," Patrick added. "With a boy or a girl?" both Deri and Arek asked. "Arek was already four years old and legitimate..." Mrs. Lepańska replied after a moment. "I'm a lefty." Deri snorted. "You're not a lefty. You're Arek's sister by the same father." The young couple looked at each other. Portosówna touched her lips. "That's why we got along so well..." she sighed. "And that was the reason you objected to our meetings, right? " "Yes. " "And how did you find out about it?" Arek asked. " We were friends until your accident, Deri, when it turned out your blood type matched not mine, but Mr. Lepańska's," Patrick explained. " This whole affair contributed not only to the end of our friendship, but also to our marriage," Lidia added. " Is that why you divorced?" Arek looked sadly at his mother. "Yes." I was full of admiration for Patrick for not doing the same. But later, when I learned about Mrs. Portos's illness, I understood why he had been with her until the end... " In the end, I was left with a 'father' who has nothing to do with me? " Patrick looked at his 'daughter' with fear. He thought she wouldn't want to stay with him any longer. But he was wrong. "I think I'd prefer it to stay that way. I don't like such drastic changes as replacing a father. I've been with you since we were little, and only you can I give my daughter's love for her father. And..." she turned to Lidia. "Is Dad Lepański alive? " "No. I mean, yes. He's in jail. After divorcing his mother, he turned to crime. He's been in prison for ten years, serving a life sentence," Arek hurried to explain. " And you're following in his footsteps?" Deryl asked her brother. "What?" Lidia groaned. Lepanto lowered his head. He was angry and at the same time grateful to his sister for bringing up the subject. He wouldn't have done it himself. He explained to all three of them what had happened with the attack and how it happened that he was friends with criminals. "We're leaving here. To Poland. Let your grandmother find out what you're doing here, and she'll teach you some manners and knock such nonsense out of you. She'll train you to be a good boy, whether you like it or not," Lidia decided. And so it was. Arek left with his mother, leaving his sister in the care of her mother's husband. The older Toledorie remained in the company of criminals. He was both Deryl's friend and her security card from all the local scum. EPILOGUE: A NEW FAMILY AND A QUICK RETURN TO THE OLD SITUATION After a year, Lidia and Arek returned to England. The boy still drove his red Alien, but the world of crime was no longer his cup of tea. Patrick married Lidia, with the consent, even the willingness, of both children. You'd think everything would end beautifully, that nothing could disturb it, but unfortunately, it did. In winter, when the roads were slippery, Lidia died in a terrible pileup. Sixteen cars on both sides of the road crashed into each other. Mrs. Lepańska-Portos was caught between the cars; she had no chance of survival. Soon after, Arek decided to go to the USA. The Portos' life returned to its former self. After the events surrounding Lidia and her son, only photos and a tombstone remained. Arek called occasionally, remembering birthdays, name days, and other small family celebrations, but contact slowly faded away. No one outside knew that Patrick was not Deryl's father. To the world, he existed as a two-time widower with a young, charming daughter and a foster son far across the pond. It was a somewhat depressing ending, but not everything can and does not always end well...