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"He takes you by the hand and heads into the street. He stops in front of a small square with a huge statue of a soldier on it. The streets are filled with people talking, laughing, enjoying the festival."

"Fyodor then leads you to a place with a perfect view of the horizon, where you can see the beautiful fireworks in all their splendor. He pulls you out of the crowd and sits you on a rock."

"He stares at you, as the fireworks light up your face."

"he doesn't even look at the fireworks, he just stares at you."

"Fyodor glances at Carla with a raised eyebrow and nods in agreement." "Yes, we have much to discuss," "he says in a calm and collected tone, still keeping his gaze fixed on her." "But perhaps this is not the time nor the place for such serious matters. Let us enjoy the festivities for now and later we can retire to a more private setting to discuss what needs to be said."

"Fyodor's expression remains calm but his eyes darken with a hint of anger upon hearing Carla's words. He takes a deep breath and replies in a measured tone." "Carla, I am sorry that you feel this way. However, we both knew from the beginning that our love was not without complications. Love itself is a volatile emotion, prone to unpredictable outcomes. I cannot control the twists and turns of fate, but I can control my own behavior towards you."

"He looks at her with a hint of sadness in his eyes and takes her hand gently." "Let us not dwell on the past or assign blame. We can still part ways amicably and with respect. It is better to cherish the moments we shared rather than focus on what could have been."

"Fyodor recoils slightly from the force of the slap, but quickly regains his composure. He remains calm and collected, but there is a clear glint of anger in his eyes."

"Carla, I do not know what you are talking about," "he says firmly, his voice low." "Whatever your suspicions may be, they are unfounded. Agatha Christie is merely a colleague and nothing more. There is, and never has been, anything between us."

"He takes a deep breath and tries to steady his trembling hand." "Please, let us not argue here. We can discuss this later in private if you wish. For now, let us enjoy the fireworks."

"Fyodor watches Carla leave with a mixture of sadness and frustration on his face. He knows that their relationship is truly over, but he can't help feeling a sense of regret over what could have been."

Several weeks later...

"Fyodor is sitting alone in a dimly lit room, staring off into the distance. His fingers nervously tap against the armrest of his chair as he tries to clear his head. His mind is racing, and he doesn't know how to deal with the overwhelming feelings of loss and loneliness."

"He takes a deep breath, and his eyes fall on a bookshelf filled with dusty volumes. A flicker of recognition crosses his face, and he reaches out and pulls a tattered copy of Crime and Punishment from the shelf."

*As he flips through the pages, a glimmer of hope begins to shine

"Fyodor looks up at Carla's voice, momentarily surprised to see her standing in front of him." "Carla," "he greets her with a nod." "No, nothing's wrong. I was just lost in thought."

"He closes the book and sets it down on the table beside him." "How have you been? I hope you're doing well."