Not like a snake

      Severe chest pain... It feels like someone literally ripped my heart out. It feels like it's beating somewhere far, far away, beyond the body, beyond the reach of my consciousness. There is not enough air... It's rapidly getting dark in my eyes... Is everything destined to end this way? So simple and spontaneous...       I feel like my lifeless body is falling on cold ice. The buzzing in my ears turns into a prolonged squeak... Before my eyes, all the people close to me, all the most important moments and memories fly by in bright bursts of colors.       I'm sorry, I can't fight anymore...       On behalf of Katya       All the way to school, I was haunted by a feeling of unusual warmth in my soul. Now Tosha and I are a couple—just this thought seems to throw me into a fever, my pulse quickens, and my cheeks turn treacherously red.       From now on, there's no point in hiding my special relationship to this person anymore. It no longer makes sense to hide your feelings and put on a mask of composure every day. Now my life is going to change. It will change thanks to him.       With these thoughts, I entered the classroom, already preparing to jump into Petrov's arms, kiss him right in front of people and remind him how much I love him. But... The guy was not in his usual place. Is he late? It doesn't look like him. Although I do not deny that he may be delayed because of an unresolved conflict with his mother.       Nevertheless, he has to come today, he just has to. So I slowly walked towards the last desk to get a seat next to the absent young man.       At one point, goosebumps ran all over my body, because out of the corner of my eye I noticed Pyatifanov closely watching my every action. He seemed to suspect me of something, but still did not dare to come up and speak.       Time passed, lesson after lesson passed, and Anton was still not there. The absence of a boyfriend was making me more worried by the second. What if something happened to him?       After geography, I hurriedly left the school premises. The mood, for obvious reason, was absolutely not there, as well as the desire to cross paths with any of my classmates.       Why didn't he come? Are you sick after yesterday? I doubt it very much — the weather was just wonderful and almost completely excluded the possibility of such a combination of circumstances.       I could only hope that Anton was really all right, and he really didn't come for family reasons or something like that. If something serious happened to Tosha, I can't stand it.       Suddenly, a hand blocked my passage.       — Slow down, snake, we need to talk. — it was not difficult to guess that Pyatifanov was in front of me with his faithful backup singer named Byasha. I, in turn, just looked at the guys questioningly. — You and Toshik have some kind of grater, as I understand it? The young man continued.       — You're wrong. Can I go?       — So what are you doing next to him all the time to get started, on? — Buryat joined the conversation after his "leader".       — We're friends. I replied sarcastically, watching the puzzled faces of the guys. — Any questions?       — Well, look at me here... — Roma said incredulously. — If something happens, I won't look at the fact that you're a girl, have you figured it out? - Is this a threat? My sigh followed.       — She's the one, on!       After walking a little forward, a grin appeared on my face, which made me say without turning around:       — I will upset you, it has already happened… Your Anton fell in love, confessed to me yesterday, imagine. There was mock surprise in his voice. There was nothing from the guys in response to this, so I just quickened my pace, intending to return home as soon as possible.       As soon as I crossed the threshold, a feeling of extraordinary fatigue covered my head, leaving me only the strength to move from the hallway to the room. Before I even had time to change into my home clothes, I fell on the bed, reciprocating the strong embrace of sleep.       I was pulled out of my restless "rest" by my mother's animated conversation. She was excitedly discussing something on the phone.       — Is it evening already? I muttered, swinging my cramped legs off the bed.       When I went down to the first floor, I heard only the end of the sentence, after which the receiver was hung up, and my mother sighed heavily.       — Has something happened?       — Anton Petrov's parents called. — after these words, my heart began to beat faster, and the sleepy state finally disappeared. — The boy has not appeared at home for a day, now I will call everyone, you never know if any of my friends have…       — And if not? The question came out of my mouth, unceremoniously interrupting my mother, which made her look at me strangely.       — We'll have to report it missing. And this is so much commotion – the whole village will be raised on its ears, by God..." she said with undisguised longing, holding the bridge of her nose. — Especially the school, including me.       Anton, the loss... flashed through my mind once more. This can't be happening. We only saw each other in the morning, everything was fine. He went home and... apparently didn't make it.       Tears began to come to my eyes, and in order to avoid unnecessary questions, I had to quickly head back to my room, where I was simply torn apart by a storm of negative emotions.       Once you fall in love with a person, get attached to him, the world, as if on purpose, begins to plot, bringing down a hail of disappointments and problems on your head.       Yesterday I was crying with happiness, and today I'm crying with despair. I should have tried to persuade him to come home or… To invite you to my place. Do something, damn it… At least something.       — At least something. I whispered through my tears, burying my face in the pillow. It could have been prevented if we had gone to school together or…       My head was filled with hundreds of scenarios, of which the one that happened is probably the worst.       — He will be found, everything will be fine. — attempts to calm yourself by saying such phrases out loud, surprisingly, worked. — He's just… From Roma, yes, it is from him. They're best friends, where else. Maybe he just decided to be alone, and now he's on his way home. — another wave of panic hit me for an unknown reason, only increasing the feeling of helplessness. Petrov disappeared as suddenly as he appeared in my life. I don't know what I'll do without him.… I just can't imagine.       I need to clear my head. I decided, somehow wiping away my tears. The first street clothes I came across turned out to be on my body — appearance was absolutely not important now, the main thing was to calm down.       I took slow steps down the stairs, trying to catch any details of my mother's calls.       — Valentin Vladimirovich, could you ask Roman ... — the last thing I heard before the frosty air blew cold on my face, causing goosebumps and making me involuntarily twitch.       A blizzard was raging outside, but that didn't stop me much. "Like I did yesterday," flashed somewhere in the back of my mind. It's crazy. I had to shake my head a little to get rid of the lousy thoughts...