Picture I - graduate

Image 1 - Graduate

Maks frowned when he saw the blue folder in his friend's hand.

"Why did you take this?" he asked, and sensing a longer conversation was brewing, he reached for a cigarette. "I told you I wouldn't need it."

Krzysiek watched his friend struggle against the strong wind and the dying match heads. When the first puff of smoke finally escaped Maks's mouth, he began to explain:

"I took it because they might come in handy. I have everything here." He lifted the folder so Maks could examine it closely.

"It's worthless. Better hide it.

" "It's worthless? It's a university diploma. Economics, with distinction. Do you hear me? With distinction! And you're telling me it's worthless?"

Maks inhaled calmly, then exhaled the contents of his lungs directly onto the document Krzysiek held. A gray cloud surrounded the folder, then dissipated in the wind.

"Then tell the diploma to feed you, Maryśka, and your kid." When he noticed his friend's eyes beginning to fill with tears, he immediately regretted his words.

Krzysiek lowered his hand with the diploma. His lips froze, and his cheeks paled. In an instant, he transformed into a little boy lost somewhere in the darkness.

"You're right," he whispered, his words carried away by the din of the street. "This is useless."

Maks placed his hand on his friend's shoulder and spoke warmly, almost affectionately:

"It's not like that. This isn't how it should be. Right?" "

I've been looking for a job for over six months. Nothing! Do you understand? NOTHING!" Suddenly, a blue briefcase landed on the ground. A moment later, the hard sole of Krzysiek's leather shoes crushed it into a puddle.

Maks didn't say a word. Instead, he bent down and picked the briefcase up from the ground. The cardboard was slightly damp, and the top had a sole print on it, but the documents seemed untouched. He threw away the cigarette and handed the folder to his friend.

"Why did you do that?" Krzysiek asked.

"Better times will come someday," Maks replied, then forced a smile. "You'll see. If not today, then tomorrow."

"You're probably right." Krzysiek shrugged glumly and stepped over the threshold of the Biedronka store.

The automatic doors slid shut behind them with a soft hiss, and the cigarette butt he had thrown continued to smoke until a random shoe extinguished it.