Stupid

Why did he give in to his father's persuasion to go to this health resort? He didn't want to. His father just wanted to get rid of him. This was what Igor thought as he got out of the car, leaning on a Canadian crutch with a forearm support. For the past couple of years, this crutch had become an integral part of Igor's life, even though he was only fifteen years old. It was a result of the tragic accident that claimed his mother's life and left him with a disability. Could the boy who was actively involved in volleyball and was expected to be the captain of the school team have imagined that something like this would happen to him? No one ever thinks about such things. They look at people like him and assume that it will never happen to them. But it did. Over time, his army of friends dwindled as he had to give up sports and training. Within two years, they had completely disappeared. The only source of any kind of communication with his peers was the Internet and attending school once a week, with the transition to home schooling. Igor was tired of all the sympathetic looks he received. Over time, these looks turned into disdainful glances. At first, this bothered Igor, as he was not responsible for what happened. However, he gradually distanced himself from everyone, becoming silent and reserved. The only companions he had were his online "friends" and his anger towards his father for causing the tragic event. Of course, he did his best to connect with his son, spending every minute of his free time with him, but he was met with accusations and aggression. He didn't even consider dating, fearing his son's reaction to the prospect of having a stepmother. Then came the ridiculous idea of sending him to a sanatorium. His father suddenly believed that interacting with teenagers would benefit his reclusive son. "That's what he decided. Why did I give in to his persuasion?" Igor thought irritably, looking at the several tall buildings, the forest, the park, and the teenagers and adults who were passing by. When they noticed him walking with a cane and limping, they stopped, looked at him, and started talking quietly. "Here we go," he thought indignantly. No, he wasn't a freak, quite the opposite. He was a blonde with light brown eyes. This contrast was incredibly attractive to girls. He was an athlete, handsome, and slightly thin, like all boys his age. But everything changed that day. There were sorrowful sighs and sad glances in his wake, as if he had died. When misfortune strikes and you sincerely hope for support, it turns out that your supposed friends have more important matters to attend to, and they flee from you as if you were a leper, as if misfortune could be contracted. After completing all the necessary paperwork, checking into a single room, and undergoing a medical examination, his father spent a long time telling him that he would be calling every day and that if he needed anything, he should just ask. "Just get out," Igor thought angrily, not even listening to him. Soon, his father left, and the young man was finally alone. His room was located on the second floor. He stepped out onto the balcony and gazed at the wall of tall trees and shrubs that lined the forest. The trees provided a pleasant shade, shielding him from the bright sunlight. The rustling of the leaves in the wind and the singing of birds filled the air with natural sounds, creating a peaceful atmosphere. The breeze carried a refreshing scent from somewhere in the distance. The path, leading deep into the forest park, beckoned him, but Igor didn't feel like going anywhere. He remained locked in his room for almost three days, only leaving to eat. During those days, he didn't make any new acquaintances, preferring to keep to himself. He chuckled, realizing that his father's plan to break his isolation had failed miserably. In the end, towards evening, he decided to take the path. The uphill and downhill trudges were not easy, but he eventually reached the seashore. There were few people there at this time. He made his way to a bench under a canopy, which still held the heat of the afternoon sun. He sat down and gazed out at the horizon. The golden sand stretched along the seashore, bathed in the warm rays of the setting sun. The sound of the surf could be heard in the distance, as the waves gently lapped the shore, leaving soft footprints in the sand. The vast blue expanse of the sea, filled with silence and tranquility, stretched out to the horizon, disappearing beyond the line of sight, which soon turned into a burgundy, orange, and purple shawl of sunset, leaving a black trail of evening as the lamps were lit. The cloudless sky, dotted with a scattering of stars, reflected in the black expanse of the sea with sparkling glimpses. The birds, circling above the water with their piercing cries, created a picturesque backdrop to this peaceful landscape. The air smelled of sea freshness, filling Igor's heart with serenity. But this mesmerizing picture was constantly interrupted by teenagers scurrying around the beach. Not far away, a group of girls stood, casting sidelong glances at him. One of them stood out in particular. A slender girl of about sixteen. A blue-eyed brunette. She immediately caught his attention as soon as she appeared in the sanatorium. The stylishly dressed beauty looked down on the guys who followed her with interested glances. Probably everyone except Igor. No, it was nice to look at Lisa, but he knew exactly how his attempt to talk to her would end, and he didn't really want to. And now. "What are you staring at?" he thought with annoyance. Despite this, he often came to the beach at sunset. Soon, an equally interesting subject appeared in the sanatorium. She was of average height. Her figure still retained a childish awkwardness. But here's the appearance. He had never seen such a contrast. Dark skin, light blue eyes and flaxen, almost white long hair, often braided. A funny girl who literally couldn't get out of the water. She swam and dived, making me wonder if she was a mermaid. Daria was funny and easy-going, and she quickly gained the favor of those around her, which angered the glamorous Lisa, who saw her as a rival for the admiration of others. Igor, on the other hand, was completely indifferent to such battles. He preferred to spend his time either reading a book on the balcony or working on his laptop in his room. Only in the evening, when the heat of the day subsided, did he venture outside to walk along the path leading to the beach. The beach was almost empty. There, he encountered Daria once again. In the water, she looked like a dolphin. After playing in the water, she came out, picked up a towel, and headed towards him. At first, the guy was taken aback, but then he just pretended not to notice, even though his heart was racing. The girl sat down on a bench and started drying her long, blonde hair. "Hi, my name is Dasha, and you?"she asked. "Igor," he replied after a moment. "Will you swim with me? I'm bored by myself," she said in a tone as if addressing a long-time acquaintance or an ordinary healthy person. "Is she kidding? She'd better invite me for a run," the guy thought with obvious hostility. "Are you blind?" Igor flared up, defiantly holding his crutch in front of him. "No. I can see a self-centered jerk all right," she said and walked away, throwing on a beach dress. Igor stared after her in disbelief until she disappeared from view, not expecting to hear such words from a teenager. The next day, those words wouldn't leave his head. He didn't think that what some girl said would get him so hooked. Igor left after lunch and went to the park. Bright flowers in flower beds, figuratively trimmed low trees and shrubs, wrought-iron gazebos. All this creates an amazing landscape that pleases the eye and fills with lightness. There he saw her in one of the gazebos surrounded by a flock of girls. Igor went up to the gazebo and called her, which caused puzzled glances from her friends. Daria approached him and looked at him expectantly. "You're sorry for yesterday. I just can't swim," he replied, averting his gaze from the awkwardness. "Ah, so that's it. Okay. I'll teach you. I spent seven years in the swimming section for nothing. Come to the beach today, if you're not too scared, of course. Just wear your swimsuit," she said before returning to the gazebo. All day until evening, he was as if in a dream. Never before had excitement gripped him to such an extent. To the trembling of his knees. He was waiting for this and afraid. Afraid that something would go wrong. That she would not come or say that it was just a prank, just to laugh at a naive fool. But he went anyway, and there be what will be. Daria was waiting for him, sitting on the very bench he had chosen at the beginning of his stay at the sanatorium. When she saw him, she waved her hand in greeting. "Good job, you didn't get scared," she praised. Igor didn't respond, standing there silently. "You can leave your clothes here," she said, pointing to the bench where she had placed her beach dress, leaving herself in a black one-piece swimsuit with blue stripes. Igor slowly pulled his T-shirt over his head, then removed his long shorts, leaving himself in his swimming trunks. They slowly made their way to the beach. "At first, you might be scared, even if you've never been afraid of water, you might develop a fear of large bodies of water. Water isn't always friendly to beginners, and you need to be prepared for that. So, don't panic in any way," she instructed. "You're cosplaying your teachers," Igor guessed with a smile. "Yeah. Swimming is not only a sport, but also a way to take care of your health and physical fitness. It develops strength, endurance, helps your spine become more flexible, improves joint mobility, trains your lungs and heart, and promotes healthy sleep," Dasha replied with an important look, as if she had memorized this phrase from her instructors, which made Igor smile. So they reached the water's edge. Igor had to leave his crutch on the shore. With a strong limp, he took a step forward. But the sand, sinking under him, made his already shaky balance even more precarious. Daria, seeing this, supported him. Feeling the touch of someone else's hands on him, he involuntarily shuddered and felt uneasy, remembering the doctors' firm and not always painless touch. It usually didn't bode well. He took a step forward. The water immediately enveloped his ankles with the pleasant warmth of the day-warmed sea water. Gradually, the water reached his knees, and then his waist. Daria stopped. "Okay. The first thing you need to do is learn how to breathe properly and float on the water. To do this, lie down on the water like you would on a bed, push off from the bottom, and try to relax your entire body. Take deep breaths in and out, and the air in your lungs will push you up to the surface. Don't worry. I'll be holding you. Most importantly, don't panic, don't get nervous, and don't laugh. If you lose air in your lungs, you'll start to sink," she said. After several failed attempts, he said in frustration: "I can't do it. My legs are bad." Daria looked at him sternly and pointed her finger at his forehead. "Your illness is here, and it's time to get rid of it," she said, pulling him closer to the shore. "Again," she said in a commanding tone. He sank into the water, pushed off from the bottom, and tried to relax. He closed his eyes and felt her hand under his neck. He took a deep breath and tried to calm down and relax. Gradually, he felt his body slowly rising to the surface. Soon, he was above the water. He was afraid to open his eyes and look at the darkening sky, but he found himself enjoying the moment. He was enjoying being embraced by the sea and listening to her calm voice, which was sometimes drowned out by the water. "When we're learning to swim, the most important thing is to breathe properly. Take a deep breath through your mouth and exhale through your nose into the water. If you want to swim quickly, keep your body parallel to the water, and if you want to swim slowly, you can keep your head above the water. This will reduce your buoyancy, but it's not a big deal," she said after a few lessons, when he was already good at staying afloat. "I'm not sure I'll ever learn," Igor thought regretfully. "It all depends on your desire and perseverance. We'll still race each other in the water," she said with a smile. Igor looked at her doubtfully. "You don't need to use your legs in the water. We'll be equal in the water," the girl countered. They were often seen together in the following days. They were discussing something, watching instructional videos, even arguing sometimes. But Daria pressed Igor's arguments with her authority. Some laughed at them. Some looked at the strange couple in disbelief. What could such an interesting girl find in a disabled person? But they didn't seem to notice those around them, immersed in their hobbies. "Here, look. Keep your head parallel to the water. Take a breath. Then turn on your side, submerge your face in the water, make a swing, and exhale. Then turn on your side again and take a breath, and don't forget to work your legs," she instructed as they returned to the beach in the evening. His mentor's hands were under his stomach and chest. She saw that he couldn't do without support yet. After five days of training, he started to get better. This style turned out to be the easiest to master. Gradually, he began to do without her support and control. And she could already keep him company in swimming. Their daily trip to the sea beach has become a kind of ritual. Igor found himself getting used to everything: their neutral conversations, walks, and gatherings. It was as if he had returned to a time when there had been no accident or illness. He was a lively and spirited boy again. Igor shuddered at the sudden rush of memories. Fear and anxiety began to wrap their cold tentacles around him. Soon, it would all be over. He would leave, and everything would return to normal. He would be alone once again. And she would quickly forget him, finding a new object for learning and communication. Igor felt his heart beating faster and his thoughts becoming uncontrollable. He tried to calm himself, to convince himself that things would not be the same, but the fear that gripped him like a vise refused to let go. "I need to finish this, to stop. You get used to good things quickly. That's why I need to unget used to them," he thought, deciding not to go to the beach anymore. "Why didn't you come?" Dasha asked him at breakfast the next day, her voice filled with confusion. "I'm tired. I'm tired of this unnecessary bullshit. I'm going to go home and drop it all anyway. So thanks for the company, but I don't need it anymore," the guy replied without looking at her. "How stupid you are!" She blurted out and, abruptly getting up from the table, hurried out of the dining room. He didn't see the tears of resentment welling up in her eyes. Igor watched her go, and something pricked in his chest. Why is it easier to hurt people you care about? It's a form of revenge for your own pain. Two days remained on the vacation package. During that time, he locked himself in his room again and didn't interact with Dasha, although he could easily recognize her from the balcony when she was in the gazebo or walking along the park path. "I see you didn't get much sun. How was your vacation?" asked his father as they drove home. "It's fine," Igor replied indifferently, looking out the window at the changing landscape. Finally, they returned home, and life returned to normal. It was as if the trip had never happened. However, a nagging sadness still lingered in his heart. He had pushed away and offended his only friend. One day, he logged into his social media account and saw a friend request. To his surprise, he recognized Dasha's avatar. With trembling hands, he accepted the request. "I've found you, you silly thing," she wrote. "You're right, it's stupid. Sorry, if you can," he typed, smiling.