— Anna, what’s going on? — Hayk asked irritably as soon as he stepped out of the helicopter. — I damaged my personal phone, and my work phone hasn’t stopped ringing. What’s the problem?

  — You’re right, there is a problem, but it’s not ours, — Anna tried to explain. — And it’s much more serious.

  — I haven’t contacted Arevik yet, — Hayk said. — I don’t have her number in this phone. Anna, find it.

  — Hayk, the problem really is serious, — Anna said, ignoring his words and handing him several documents. — There has been a technical malfunction at the intermediate storage facility responsible for the transfer, and now there is a leak.

  — A leak? — Hayk repeated in horror. — Anna, that’s a serious environmental issue.

  — I know. I’ve already asked them for the warehouse layout, — Anna said as they got into the car. — You’re a good engineer. I hope you’ll figure out what the problem is.

  — Let’s see, — Hayk said, studying the documents Anna had given him. — Actually, the situation isn’t that bad, — he continued after looking through the papers for a few more minutes. — A few things need to be fixed, and most importantly, the leak must be stopped.

  — Hayk, they need your help, — Anna said firmly. — The problem has reached the state level, and your presence there is required.

  Hayk said nothing. He was very tired, but realizing the seriousness of the problem, he took a deep breath. However, a faint smile appeared on his face when he saw the building of his institution approaching in the distance.

  — You’re right, my presence there is important, — Hayk said, glancing once more at the building and adding with a half-smile, — Let’s stop by the office for a minute. I’ll see Arevik, and then we’ll go wherever you say.

  — Hayk, we don’t have time for that, — Anna said in a semi-commanding tone. — We need to go to the airport immediately.

  — Anna, I need to see Arevik, — Hayk objected. — I damaged my phone, and you’re not paying attention to anything except this problem.

  — Hayk, don’t you understand how serious this situation is? — Anna replied. Then, calming down a little, she added, — I’ll go to her on your behalf and explain everything.

  — If the car has to change direction to drop you off at the office, I can get out myself and visit Arevik, — Hayk said, ignoring Anna’s words and telling the driver to slow down.

  — Hayk, there’s a pedestrian crossing in front of the building. There’s no need to drive into the institution’s territory, — Anna replied. Looking him straight in the eyes, she continued, — An environmental crisis is no joke, Hayk. If we are late, it could become a catastrophe.

  Anna’s words were true. Hayk froze for a moment. His eyes accused Anna of cruelty, but he consciously understood that the problem really was serious.

  — Tell me where that crossing is, the one you mentioned, — Hayk said, yielding to the circumstances.

  — As soon as we pass the building, let the car stop at a convenient place, — Anna instructed.

  — Anna, it’s dangerous here, — Hayk objected, realizing that Anna didn’t actually know the exact place of the crossing. She had just said it to ease the tension.

  — Hayk, go. Don’t worry about me, — Anna said as she stepped out of the car.

  But Hayk’s heart was pounding uncontrollably. He couldn’t continue on his way. He stepped out of the car and, with a racing heart, watched as Anna began to cross the street.

  His anxiety was not unfounded. Many years ago, on this very same road, he had seen his mother crossing the street.

  Anna easily crossed the first lane, then the second, but the flow of cars was too fast, and crossing there was forbidden. A slight loss of concentration led to a car approaching from the opposite direction failing to stop completely and hitting Anna. Traffic stopped instantly.

  Hayk froze in place. Panic paralyzed him, but the noise of people around him brought him back to reality, and he ran to Anna, who had fallen to the ground. Although the car had slowed down before the impact, the collision still threw Anna quite far, and she suffered a concussion.

  — Anna, hold on, the ambulance is coming! — Hayk shouted, grabbing her hand. — Do you hear me, Anna? Hold on…

  There was a plea in Hayk’s trembling voice, begging her not to leave him, but he couldn’t say anything except those words.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  The ambulance arrived. Anna was taken to the hospital, and of course Hayk went with her. Sitting outside the doctor’s office, holding his head in his hands and nervously tapping his feet, Hayk waited for the results of the examination.

  It felt like an eternity before the doctor finally came out and said that Anna had no serious injuries — only minor bruises from the impact and fall, which would pass after a week of observation in the hospital.

  Hayk took a deep breath and entered the room.

  — Did you decide to test my nerves? — Hayk asked half-jokingly, half-seriously, smiling as he walked in.

  — I’m sorry, Hayk. I didn’t mean to, — Anna began to apologize.

  — I know, you silly girl, — he said, gently hugging her and kissing her on the forehead.

  — I’m so ashamed, — Anna said anxiously. — Not only did I fail to deliver your message to Arevik, I also got myself into this stupid situation.

  — Don’t say nonsense, — Hayk replied. — What matters now is that you recover. As for the meeting, I’ll talk to Arevik myself.

  — If you go out now, you’ll still have time to get to the airport, — Anna said, glancing at the clock.

  — What airport? Are you out of your mind? — Hayk snapped, unable to hold back his emotions. — Anna, stop it, I’m not going anywhere.

  — Don’t worry, — Anna began to explain. — I’m fine. I’ll be back home in a few days…

  — Anna, stop talking, — Hayk said, shaking his head.

  — Right now you don’t have the luxury of acting on impulse, Hayk, — she continued after a short pause, making sure he was listening. — I’m okay, really. Arevik is safe, she’s at work. And your project is at a critical point; you’ll lose it if you act incorrectly.

  — You’re impossible, Anna, — Hayk said, realizing she wouldn’t let herself relax again. — I’m torn apart inside and I don’t know what to do.

  — I understand you, — Anna tried to console him, though she was firmly determined to send Hayk to the airport.

  — Fine, let it be, — Hayk declared after a moment of silence. — I’ll wait until morning, then I’ll go.

  — That’s unnecessary, — Anna objected, not missing the opportunity. — I’ll call home now; someone will come and sit with me, though it’s not strictly needed. You go to the airport.

  — Alright, Anna, I understand perfectly, — Hayk smiled. — Your phone is broken; take a new one and stay in touch. I’ll head to the airport.

  — Goodbye, — Anna said, genuinely smiling.

  Hayk lingered for a moment at the door, as if he wanted to say something, but then only shook his head.

  — You’re impossible, — Hayk smiled back and left the room.

  As soon as Hayk was gone, Anna took a deep breath, relaxed, and only then allowed herself to quietly groan from the pain in her body.

  It was all due to chaotic circumstances. For a while, everyone had been so absorbed in their own problems that no one could spare even a minute for another person in the chaos.

  A week passed. Anna finally recovered and returned to work. Since no one could do the tasks she usually handled, her desk was piled high with documents.

  It took her a whole day to sort things out, and only by the end of the day did she notice a document in her hands that unsettled her.

  She could have stood there staring at it for a long time if not for the phone ringing. Seeing who was calling, she felt relief — now she could shift responsibility for this document onto someone else.

  It was selfish, but one of those moments when Anna preferred not to intervene herself.

  — Anna, how was your first day back at work? — Hayk asked on the other end of the line.

  — I’m fine, everything’s okay. No need to call so often, — Anna said with a gentle smile.

  — Of course, I need to. It’s your first day, — Hayk objected, adding, — I’m sure your desk was covered in documents.

  — I sorted through them. Only one is left, — Anna said, trying to steer the conversation toward the topic from a distance.

  — What document got you stuck? — Hayk asked, sensing an inexplicable tension.

  — You know perfectly well why I’m stuck, — Anna said, taking a deep breath. Although she didn’t intend to make the decision herself, she still needed to inform Hayk.

  — Then tell me. Let me see… But you know, Anna, I still haven’t been able to reach Arevik, — Hayk said.

  Anna held her breath for a moment. She felt that if she exhaled now, Hayk would understand everything.

  — Anna? — Hayk called, thinking there was a technical problem with the connection.

  — Yes, I hear you, — Anna said, exhaling deeply and continuing. — Hayk, I haven’t had the chance to find out personally what happened with Arevik, but the document I have in my hands right now…

  Anna paused for a moment, then said:

  — It’s Arevik’s resignation letter.

  — Resignation letter? — Hayk repeated, making sure he heard correctly.

  — Tomorrow I’ll go to the archives and find out what happened, — Anna tried to lighten the mood, hearing Hayk’s rapid breathing on the other end of the line.

  — That’s unnecessary, — Hayk said sharply. — Sign it.

  — Hayk, this is strange, — Anna objected. — We need to understand why.

  — There’s nothing to understand, — Hayk said sharply, adding, — She had no problems at work, and she felt fine there. If she made that decision, it was her own choice, — Hayk clarified, almost as if trying to convince himself.

  — Let me sort it out, — Anna said, realizing that arguing with Hayk right now would be pointless.

  — I’ll stay here for another month, Anna, — Hayk said, ignoring her words. — Even though we’ve eliminated the immediate danger, the work isn’t finished yet.

  — We’ll stay in touch, Hayk, — Anna said, realizing the conversation was coming to an end.

  — Alright, Anna. We’ll talk later, — Hayk said, hanging up before waiting for a reply.

  Hayk lowered the phone and stared at his trembling hands in horror. But what troubled him most was the ache in his heart — it felt like a blow from a blunt object.

  — You promised you wouldn’t leave me… — Hayk whispered.

  At that moment, he wanted to scream from the pain, but he had no strength.

  Thoughts began to flood him, one after another. Emotions swarmed him like a cloud of flies. He worried, but couldn’t find a single reason why she would leave.

  "Could everything we went through have been so insignificant that you just walked away?" Hayk thought.

  That thought grew stronger and stronger.

  "Maybe I was wrong to trust you…?"

  These thoughts suffocated him.

  But at that moment, the phone rang. It was a call from the warehouse — about some work-related issue. Hayk answered calmly.

  After hanging up, he suddenly realized: work is the only thing that shields him from this hellish pain.

  — Yes… work, — Hayk said quietly. — Only work can save me from this pain.

  He took a deep breath and immersed himself in the documents.