In the winter, I was still hoping that Vesta would come back into my life and that we could start dating. Her charm, ease in communication, and incredible charisma simply fascinated me, making her special in my eyes. At that time, I truly idealized her and had strong feelings for her. Even though I was already seeing other girls, like Yana and Nika, my heart was still thinking about Vesta. We occasionally saw each other; she even invited me to her place, and this strengthened my hope that something could work out between us.
However, in the winter of 2007, everything changed. Vesta openly declared that she was seeing another guy. I remember that moment as if it were yesterday: her words echoed in my mind. She said it with such coldness, as if she didn’t care how I felt. It was very painful for me. That was the moment when I realized that I had to let Vesta go and stop nurturing false hopes.
After that, I decided to move on, although deep down, there was still a taste of disappointment. At that time, there was a girl named Inna working at our company, who had previously been a secretary but was already promoted to logistics manager. Inna and I often talked and became friends—as the youngest in the team, we felt somewhat on the same wavelength. I approached her with a simple request—asked if she had a friend I could meet. Inna smiled and said she had an excellent candidate—her dacha neighbor, Masha I., and she shared her contact with me.
We started talking in QIP and quickly discovered that we had much more in common than we could have expected. We were both born in 1988, and our paths had crossed long before this moment. In childhood, when we were about 10–12 years old, we both attended the same children’s school of TV journalism in Orekhovo, at the local cable TV in Zyablikovo. We had the same teacher—a respected Viktor Ivanovich. Remembering this, I was amazed at how bizarrely circumstances sometimes come together. We took this coincidence as a sign of fate. After that, I realized I couldn’t miss this opportunity.
At that time, Masha was studying in the evening department at the Russian State University named after A.N. Kosygin, at the Institute of International Education. It was the last day of February, the last day of winter, and although it was an ordinary weekday, there was already a special atmosphere in the air. I clearly remember how I asked my boss’s driver to take me to the place of our first meeting—my date with Masha. I invited her to the Brateevsky Cascade Park on the banks of the Moscow River.
Our date began after sunset, when the city was enveloped in nighttime silence. Lanterns lit the paths in the park, and their soft light reflected off the freshly fallen snow, giving the world around a sense of coziness and magic. We slowly walked along the river, talking and smiling at each other. With every minute, it seemed that the distance between us was shrinking, and we were getting closer.
Walking through the snowy park, we suddenly noticed a huge wooden ship, proudly towering in its center. Under snow-covered trees, it looked as if it were from another world. With excitement in our hearts, we stepped onto the deep snow and, holding hands, began to make our way to it. It was difficult, but fun—we climbed aboard and, laughing, reenacted the famous scene from Titanic. At that moment, standing together at the stern and looking at each other, I felt our lives beginning to intertwine inseparably. That day marked the start of our relationship, filled with warmth and joy.
Soon after our first meeting, we celebrated our first March 8th together. That day was filled with the crisp spring air and the anticipation of something magical. We wandered along the wide, lively Moscow avenues, enjoying the warm sun and the smiles of passersby, feeling like part of a big and friendly city. Our messages to each other became warmer and more heartfelt with every day, and each meeting strengthened our relationship, making my heart beat faster with joy and anticipation. These moments filled our hearts with light and confidence in our shared future.
After one of our unforgettable dates, Masha invited me to her home for the first time to meet her family. That evening, crossing the threshold of her cozy apartment, I felt both excitement and the anticipation of something significant. Meeting her mother and grandmother became one of the key moments of our acquaintance. They turned out to be unusually warm and welcoming, winning me over from the very first minutes. Their sincere interest in my life and openness in conversation made the evening especially warm and memorable. That’s when I truly felt part of her world, which gave our relationship a new, deeper meaning.
On April 14th, Masha’s birthday, I met her friends for the first time at a bus stop, which was a significant moment for our relationship. Among them were her university friends—Nadya Sh. with her boyfriend Volodya, Tanya with her boyfriend Dima, and always cheerful Asya. Masha proudly told me that soon after we became a couple, Nadya also met her Volodya. All together, we went to Masha’s home, where her relatives were already gathering or arriving.
The warmth of the family hearth and the welcoming reception made that evening truly memorable. Communication with everyone present only strengthened my feelings for Masha and helped me feel like an integral part of her life and her close circle.
That birthday turned out to be a truly special moment when I realized how significant a part of Masha’s life I had become—and she of mine. The celebration was a success: I felt surrounded by people who sincerely accepted me as I was. All that time, Masha was nearby, supporting me with every glance and gesture, and I was incredibly grateful for such warm and heartfelt acceptance. Her attention and care made that day not only a celebration of her birthday, but also a celebration of our mutual joy and understanding.
Inspired by meeting her friends, Masha and I decided that we absolutely had to visit Viktor Ivanovich—our former teacher. This man not only taught us the basics of TV journalism, but also inadvertently became the reason for our first date after so many years. Visiting him turned into a journey into the past, where every object in his modest apartment seemed full of memories. We reminisced about our school years, vividly discussed our first steps in journalism, laughed at childhood mistakes, and rejoiced in each other’s successes.
That meeting unexpectedly inspired me to think seriously about my own future. Having left my studies at MEPhI behind—where the world of exact sciences and technology seemed my unchanging calling—I had already been working successfully as a programmer for two years. However, the meeting with Viktor Ivanovich and the stories about the successes of our acquaintances at the Faculty of Journalism of RSSU (Russian State Social University) awakened in me a desire to explore the world of media more deeply.
Realizing that journalism could become a bridge between my past in science and my new aspiration for creativity and social interaction, I seriously thought about changing my professional direction. I realized that this was not just a new interest, but a real and meaningful desire to change the course of my career by continuing to study at the journalism faculty in parallel with my job. This decision seemed especially appealing and promising to me, given my experience in programming.
Masha, seeing my interest, actively supported my ambitions. Thanks to her faith in my abilities, I felt confident enough to apply for part-time studies at the journalism faculty of RSSU. My enrollment became an important step in my life. I successfully passed the entrance exams, which was another confirmation of the rightness of my choice. I was grateful to Masha for her unwavering support and inspiration, which played a key role in this important stage of my educational and professional journey.
Over time, it became customary that after work, I would go not home, but to her place. We spent evenings together in her cozy apartment, discussing the day, dreaming, and just enjoying each other’s company. Often our evenings were accompanied by watching various movies, and once we watched “Ocean’s Eleven,” which became one of my favorites. Masha’s grandmother often delighted us with her culinary masterpieces, preparing dinner, which made our evenings even warmer and more homely. After midnight, I would take the bus home. Although Masha lived nearby, just two metro stations away from me, returning by bus was romantic in its own way, and this continued for a long time.
With each passing day, I realized more and more how much Masha influenced my personal development. She was convinced that appearance and behavior should match the status of an adult man, and her views greatly influenced me. On her advice, I began to wear suits to work every day, which significantly improved my self-perception and changed my colleagues’ attitude towards me. With her support, I started getting up regularly at 8 am, starting each day by carefully ironing my trousers and shirt. This morning ritual not only helped me maintain a flawless appearance but also set me up for a productive day.
In addition, Masha taught me how to cook and take homemade lunch to work. This not only saved money but also strengthened my confidence and sense of independence.
These changes in my daily life helped me see myself differently, and this influenced my professional achievements. My confidence and new way of thinking were noticed and appreciated at work, which became an additional incentive to develop my qualities as a specialist.
